Spain has exhumed remains from a mass grave in Vegas de Matute as part of the country’s ongoing effort to recover victims executed during the Franco dictatorship. Forensic teams uncovered the body of a man believed to be either Luis Garcia Hernandez, a teacher and union member, or Julio Maroto Ortega, a road worker, both executed in 1936 by fascist forces during the Spanish Civil War. The discovery was observed by relatives and activists from the Association for the Recovery of Historical Memory, who have been pushing for justice and recognition since 2000.

The exhumation is one of many initiatives supported by Spain’s Socialist-led government since 2018, aimed at confronting the legacy of dictator Francisco Franco and offering dignity to thousands buried in unmarked graves. Local resident Jose Luis Cubo, 83, recounted how his grandfather had witnessed the execution and helped bury the bodies at night, calling the farmland area a long-feared “death zone.” Even decades later, he said, crops grew differently above what locals believed to be the burial site.

Spain remains deeply divided over Franco’s legacy, 50 years after his death ended four decades of dictatorship and paved the way for democracy and entry into the EU and NATO. Authorities estimate that around 114,000 people disappeared during the conflict and subsequent regime, though only 20,000 are likely recoverable today. With 9,000 bodies already found and 700 identified, the government expects the remaining graves to be uncovered within four years. Officials say each recovery helps restore historical truth, even if the remains cannot be individually named.

Pic Courtesy: google/ images are subject to copyright