Dan Snow's History Hit The Bombing of Guernica
Dec 8, 2025
This discussion features David Brydon, a Senior Lecturer specializing in 20th-century history at King's College London. He details the horrific 1937 bombing of Guernica, revealing its political significance and the brutal tactics used. Brydon examines the motives behind the attack, including its symbolic impact on modern warfare. He connects this tragedy to later conflicts and explores its legacy, highlighting Picasso's iconic response and the continued implications of aerial bombardment in warfare. A fascinating look at a pivotal moment in history!
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Guernica Marked A New Era Of Aerial Terror
- The Guernica raid was the first deliberate aerial bombing of a defenceless European civilian population and shocked the world.
- It signalled a new era where air power could target whole towns and terrorize civilians to achieve strategic aims.
Guernica As A Testing Ground For The Luftwaffe
- The Condor Legion used Guernica to trial Luftwaffe tactics, weapons, and combined air-ground coordination.
- Germany and Italy tested techniques in Spain that were later used across WWII.
A Reporter’s Account Revealed Systematic Carnage
- George Steer's eyewitness reporting described a methodical pattern: initial heavy bombs, machine-gunning, then incendiaries to burn survivors.
- His account exposed the attack as deliberate and systematic rather than accidental or incidental.