The Democracy Archive at the University of Alicante has revealed the identity of 1,760 Spanish Republicans who were detained in Bouarfa in Morocco and Colomb-Béchar in Algeria. This achievement came through the careful work of two advisory board members, the historian Juan Martinez Leal and his collaborator, Mercedes, with support from the International Red Cross. They examined documents at the Red Cross archives in Geneva during the summer of 1942, later digitized by the Documentary Center of Historical Memory in Salamanca.
The names are now accessible in a new section of the site titled Republican Exile in North Africa, under Trans-Saharan Forced Labor Camps. This open project grows daily with newly found materials. Since the site launched in 2020, this portion of the Democracy Archive has continually expanded. The resource is important for researchers, family members, and anyone interested in the lesser known chapter of Republican exile, especially in the Alicante region.
The Bouarfa and Colomb-Béchar camps served as central nodes for the Trans-Saharan railway project. The Vichy French government organized twelve Foreign Workers’ Companies, most of which were comprised of Spanish Republicans. The two camps lay roughly 140 kilometers apart on opposite sides of the border between French Algeria and the French protectorate of Morocco. In these camps and the surrounding areas, prisoners faced compulsory labor under harsh conditions, earning meager wages. They toiled in extreme heat and blowing sand, performing tasks like breaking stones, dismounting, and moving sleepers, while enduring poor food, mistreatment, and punishments administered by armed guards.
The analysis of data from the International Red Cross Archive sheds light on the origins of the internees, revealing a strong presence from Alicante State, followed by Murcia, Madrid, Malaga, and Valencia. The records also note the trades declared by the prisoners, which ranged from unskilled agricultural work and various manual crafts to specialized trades such as fabrication and plumbing. A minority included professionals like journalists, doctors, artists, and musicians, reflecting the varied lives disrupted by the exile.
Allied landings in North Africa began in November 1942 with Operation Torch, but the camps did not begin to be liberated until months later, as the war progressed and ground operations advanced.
Republican exile in North Africa
The page on Republican exile in North Africa serves to preserve memory and broaden knowledge about one of the most overlooked chapters of Spanish history. It covers the period from the end of the Civil War in March 1939 through 1962. The narrative centers on roughly 15,000 Spaniards—many men, but also women and children, sometimes entire families who sacrificed everything to rebuild their lives. The page describes the hope of forming a communal space for ongoing discussion and learning, welcoming the descendants of these expatriates and researchers from across the Mediterranean.
The project emphasizes the continuous addition of testimonies and stories of struggle, survival, and resilience. The aim is to ensure that these memories remain visible and accessible to future generations, highlighting the lasting human impact of exile and displacement. The project leadership notes the importance of keeping this history alive, inviting broader engagement and collaboration from those interested in this period and its enduring legacy.