On Friday, November 28, 2025, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier made history by visiting Guernica, the northern Basque town devastated by Nazi bombers in 1937. The attack, carried out by the Condor Legion in support of General Francisco Franco’s forces during the Spanish Civil War, killed hundreds of civilians and became one of the first modern examples of mass terror bombing against civilian populations.
Steinmeier’s visit marked the first time a German head of state has traveled to Guernica, a town whose name has become synonymous with wartime atrocities and immortalized in Pablo Picasso’s iconic painting Guernica.
Ceremony and Symbolism
Steinmeier joined King Felipe VI of Spain and Basque regional leaders at a wreath-laying ceremony at a cemetery housing a mausoleum built in 1973 for victims of the bombing.
The leaders also visited the Museum of Peace, which documents the tragedy and its legacy.
Steinmeier described Guernica as a “crime” for which Germany bears a heavy burden of guilt, urging Germans never to forget the lessons of history Yahoo News UK.
Context and Implications
The bombing of Guernica on April 26, 1937 is seen by historians as a precursor to World War II’s mass bombings of civilian targets, including London, Warsaw, and Dresden.
Steinmeier’s visit underscores Germany’s ongoing efforts at historical reconciliation, acknowledging responsibility for Nazi-era crimes while strengthening ties with Spain.
For Spain, the visit highlights the enduring scars of the Civil War and the importance of remembrance in fostering peace.
For the Basque region, it represents recognition of their suffering and a symbolic gesture of solidarity from Germany.
Reactions
Spanish officials welcomed the visit as a powerful act of reconciliation.
Historians noted its significance in confronting the legacy of Nazi involvement in Spain’s Civil War.
Basque leaders emphasized the importance of remembrance, linking Guernica’s tragedy to broader struggles for peace and justice.
Sources: Yahoo News UK The Jerusalem Post Namibia Press Agency
