Tragedy in Eibar's air raid shelters
We are in the street that joined Alfa, a pioneering cooperative project since 1920 run by the actual workers, with Plaza Unzaga, home to the Town Hall, symbol of the proclamation of the 2nd Republic in Spain. In the post-war period, the company was taken over and controlled by the dictatorship. Alfa still exists today. It began by manufacturing firearms and later became famous for its sewing machines and other products. Its management model has been adapted to the 21st century.
Several of the most important events during the Republic and the post-war period also took place at Alfa. Many of its workers participated decisively in proclaiming the Republic in 1931. In October 1934, it was one of the centres for leaders of the revolution whilst, in 1936, its mainly socialist employees supported the Republic against members of the coup d'etat.
Eibar was a battle front for six months between September 1936 and April 1937 after Gipuzkoa had fallen with the exception of Elgeta and Eibar. During this period and even before, it suffered fifteen air raids the first of which took place on 29 August 1936. What's more, the city was shelled on a daily basis from the surrounding mountains and nearby villages. Consequently, the War Commissioner set up sixteen air raid shelters, making particular use of the railway tunnels and the roofing over the River Ego.
Public announcement by the Eibar War Commissioner after the first raid on the city on 29 August 1936. © Gipuzkoa Provincial Goverment. Koldo Mitxelena Library. Urquijo Fund.
The population was constantly punished until 26th April 1937 but, without a doubt, the worst was the final attack of 24th and 25th April 1937 by Mussolini's Italian legionnaire aviation squad, commanded by Hitler's German Luftwaffe.
The Italian flight report from 25 April 1937 dated in Salamanca mentions that seven Savoia-Marchetti S.M. 81 machines bombed the road between Eibar and Ermua from 2pm onwards. In this mission, they launched 21 bombs weighing 100 kg, and another 103 bombs weighing 50 kg, in total more than seven tonnes.
Flight report from the Italian Aviazione Legionaria dated 25th April 1937. © Ministry of Defence. Historic Air Force Archive Villaviciosa de Odón (Madrid).
In shelter no.14 at 6pm, a delay-action bomb penetrated the Ego gain shelter. Many of the victims died as the consequence of the explosion and others suffocated due to lack of oxygen. According to a Basque Government report, 74 were killed and 97 injured over those two days as a consequence of bombing Eibar.
Savoia-Marchetti S.M. 81 “Pipistrello” squadron bombing.
Now we're going to move on to Plaza Unzaga, symbol of Eibar's liberalism and first place in the State to proclaim the 2nd Republic in 1931.
Main image:
Crater caused by a bomb exploding in the Labadorekua shelter on 25th April 1937. © Gipuzkoa Provincial Goverment Archive Indalecio Ojanguren collection.
© Eibarko Udala 2026