Testimony of Gervasio "El Rubio" Puerta García, Interview with Jessica Cordova and Omar Pimienta; July 3, 2008
Contributor
University of California, San Diego Asociación de Ex-presos y Represaliados Políticos Asociación para la Recuperación de la Memoria Histórica Federación Estatal de Foros por la Memoria Cordova, Jessica Pimienta, Omar Puerta García, Gervasio
Under copyright Constraint(s) on Use: This work is protected by the copyright law. Use of this work beyond that allowed by the applicable copyright statute requires written permission of the copyright holder(s). Responsibility for obtaining permissions and any use and distribution of this work rests exclusively with the user and not the UC San Diego Library. Inquiries can be made to the UC San Diego Library program having custody of the work. Use: This work is available from the UC San Diego Library. This digital copy of the work is intended to support research, teaching, and private study.
Rights Holder and Contact
Puerta García, Gervasio
Description
Gervasio “El Rubio” Puerta García recuenta que fue de Burgos a Madrid para trabajar de dependiente de ultramarinos dos meses antes de que estallara la Guerra Civil. El Rubio explica que la guerra marcó la destrucción de su familia. Relata que se incorporó al ejército Republicano en la Sierra de Guadarrama a los quince años y participó en las batallas de Aragón, Teruel, y el Ebro. El Rubio detalla que militó en la Unión General de Trabajadores, las Juventudes Socialistas Unificadas (JSU), y las Juventudes Comunistas. Recuerda que se refugió en Francia, donde le pusieron en varios campos. El Rubio señala las pésimas condiciones del campo de concentración Argelès-sur-Mer y la organización de los detenidos. Narra la llegada de las tropas alemanas a Francia y sus esfuerzos para evitar que le llevaran a un campo alemán. El Rubio nota que se incorporó al trabajo clandestino de las JSU en los Pirineos, regresó a España, y trabajó como organizador de las JSU en Madrid. Describe la vida en la clandestinidad y su detención en Andalucía. El Rubio cuenta que estuvo encarcelado en Sevilla y Burgos, y fue detenido otra vez y torturado con su esposa en 1961. Comenta sobre su trabajo con el Centro de Información y Solidaridad con España. Habla de la política actual y la importancia de que se condene la represión Franquista. Gervasio "El Rubio" Puerta García remembers going from Burgos to Madrid to work as a grocery store clerk two months before the Civil War began. El Rubio explains that the war marked the destruction of his family. He relates joining the Republican army in the Sierra de Guadarrama at age fifteen and participating in the battles of Aragón, Teruel, and the Ebro. El Rubio details his militancy in the Unión General de Trabajadores (General Union of Workers), Juventudes Socialistas Unificadas (Unified Socialist Youth, JSU), and Juventudes Comunistas (Communist Youth). He recalls seeking refuge in France and being placed in various camps. El Rubio notes the dreadful conditions of the Argelès-sur-Mer concentration camp and the organization of the detained. He describes the arrival of German troops in France and how he avoided being taken to a German camp. El Rubio recounts working clandestinely for the JSU in the Pyrenees, returning to Spain, and working as a JSU organizer in Madrid. He speaks about living clandestinely and being detained in Andalucía. El Rubio tells of being incarcerated in Sevilla and Burgos, and being detained again and tortured with his wife in 1961. He comments on his work with the Centro de Información y Solidaridad con España (Center for Information and Solidarity with Spain). El Rubio discusses current politics and the importance of condemning the Francoist repression Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego, La Jolla, 92093-0175 (https://lib.ucsd.edu/sca) Testimony of the Spanish Civil War and the Francoist dictatorship Interviews in Spanish Gervasio "El Rubio" Puerta García's testimony was recorded in his home in Madrid Puerta García, Gervasio. Testimony of the Spanish Civil War and the Francoist Dictatorship. University of California, San Diego, 2008 Madrid, Spain : Spanish Civil War Memory Project 2008
Type
moving image
Format
4 video files : digital, sound, color
Identifier
ark:/20775/bb3141146g
Language
Spanish
Subject
Civil War (Spain : 1936-1939) Communism Personal narratives-Spanish Interviews Battle of the Ebro River (Spain : 1938) Oral history Political prisoners Nonfiction films History Argelès-sur-Mer (Concentration camp) Unión General de Trabajadores de España Juventudes Socialistas Unificadas France Seville (Spain) Madrid (Spain) Spain Burgos (Spain)
Place
France Seville (Spain) Madrid (Spain) Spain Burgos (Spain)
If you're wondering about permissions and what you can do with this item, a good starting point is the "rights information" on this page. See our terms of use for more tips.
Share your story
Has Calisphere helped you advance your research, complete a project, or find something meaningful? We'd love to hear about it; please send us a message.
