La Retirada was the exodus to France from Spain between 28 January 1939 and 15 February 1939 of nearly 500,000 Republican soldiers and civilians near the end of the Spanish Civil War. The exodus was caused by the conquest of Catalonia, including the city of Barcelona, by the right-leaning Nationalist army of Francisco Franco. With the capture of Catalonia, the Civil War soon ended in victory for the Nationalists.
Refugees waiting to cross the border into France.
Civilian refugees at the border. On arrival in France, women and children were usually separated from men of military age.
In a bit of reverse colonialism, African Spahis (on horseback) of the French army guard a column of Republican refugees.
Guarded by French soldiers, Republican soldiers arrive at the Argeles-sur-mer camp.
Argelers concentration camp
The Argelers concentration camp was an internment camp established in early February 1939 on the territory of the French commune of Argelès-sur-Mer for Spanish Republican refugees. Called La Retirada many of the refugees were members of the Spanish Republican Army (Ejército Popular Republicano) in the Northeast of Spain in the last months of the Spanish Civil War.
Commemorative monument for the survivors of the retirada (retreat).
