Testimony of Amparo Gallardo, Interview with Jodi Eisenberg and Jessica Cordova; July 2, 2009
Contributor
Gallardo, Amparo Cordova, Jessica Eisenberg, Jodi Asociación de Ex-presos y Represaliados Políticos Asociación para la Recuperación de la Memoria Histórica Federación Estatal de Foros por la Memoria University of California, San Diego
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Gallardo, Amparo
Description
Amparo Gallardo relates that she was a child when the Civil War began. Amparo narrates her family's journey from Málaga to Almería, noting the bombardments, deaths, and destruction they witnessed. She reiterates that many families were divided as a result of the war. Amparo tells that a neighbor changed her name to pass her off as his daughter and took her to Valencia, so that she would not be put on a ship full of orphaned children destined for Russia. She remembers living in Valencia for one year before reuniting with her mother. Amparo recounts that her family was one of the first to seek refuge in France and was well received, but the experience of those who arrived after was not the same. She speaks about returning to Spain two years later. Amparo details the strong repression that occurred in Vélez at the end of the war. She describes the violence inflicted on the rojos (reds), explaining that women were forced to drink castor oil and their heads were shaved bald. Amparo recalls a large massacre that took place in Vélez and about which no one spoke because of the imposed censorship. She comments on the changes that took place after Franco's death. Amparo discusses the importance of historical memory so that the younger generations can remember the experiences of their parents and grandparents Amparo Gallardo relata que era niña cuando comenzó la Guerra Civil. Amparo narra la caminata de su familia de Málaga a Almería, notando los bombardeos, las muertes, y la destrucción que vieron. Reitera que muchas familias fueron divididas a raíz de la guerra. Amparo recuenta que un vecino le cambió de nombre para hacerla pasar como su hija y la llevó a Valencia, para evitar que la pusieran en un barco lleno de niños huérfanos que iba hacía Rusia. Cuenta que vivió un año en Valencia antes de reencontrarse con su madre. Amparo destaca que su familia fue de las primeras en refugiarse en Francia y fueron bien recibidos, pero la experiencia de aquellos que llegaron después no fue igual. Habla sobre regresar a España dos años más tarde. Amparo detalla la fuerte represión que hubo en Vélez al terminar la guerra. Describe la violencia ejercida sobre los “rojos”, explicando que a las mujeres las rapaban y forzaban a tomar aceite de ricino. Amparo recuerda una matanza muy grande que hubo en Vélez y de la cual no se podía hablar a causa de la censura impuesta. Señala los cambios que ocurrieron después de la muerte de Franco. Amparo comenta sobre la importancia de la memoria histórica para que las generaciones jóvenes recuerden las experiencias de sus padres y sus abuelos. Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego, La Jolla, 92093-0175 (https://lib.ucsd.edu/sca) Interviews in Spanish Amparo Gallardo's testimony was recorded in her home in Vélez-Málaga, Spain Testimony of the Spanish Civil War and the Francoist dictatorship Gallardo, Amparo. Testimony of the Spanish Civil War and the Francoist Dictatorship. University of California, San Diego, 2009 Vélez-Málaga, Spain :, Spanish Civil War Memory Project, [year
Type
moving image
Format
3 video files : digital, sound, color
Identifier
ark:/20775/bb4779387n
Language
Spanish
Subject
Civil War (Spain : 1936-1939) Interviews Personal narratives-Spanish Oral history Nonfiction films History Spain Valencia (Spain) France
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