“Unos viejos amigos en horas difíciles”. La derrota del Eje y la persecución aliada de los fugitivos de guerra en la Barcelona de 1945

Abstract

“Old friends in hard times”. The defeat of the Axis and allied prosecution of war refugees in Barcelona in 1945

The meaning of some incidents that took place in Barcelona and whose effects go far beyond the Catalan capital city, is analyzed in this article in order to explore the contradictions the Francoist authorities were faced with since World War II ended in Europe in May 1945. The aim of the article is to look at how several sec- tors of the Spanish political leadership were put under pressure by their allies, how and with what consequences they tried to protect the “old friends” they had made when they supported the Axis powers.

Received: 18-09-2011