Archive · 20 Nov 2025
Spain Recovers Victims of Franco-Era Killings
Spain is digging up the bodies of people who were killed during the time of dictator Francisco Franco.
They are doing this to remember and honor the victims, and to help heal the country's wounds.
So far, they have found over 9,000 bodies, and they think they can find around 20,000 in total.
This is a big project that the government started a few years ago, and it's taking a long time because some of the bodies are hard to find.
Remains of a victim from Franco's era were exhumed in Vegas de Matute
The victim is believed to be either Luis Garcia Hernandez or Julio Maroto Ortega
The exhumation is part of a government-led effort to recover victims of Franco's regime
Over 9,000 bodies have been found so far, with around 20,000 expected to be recoverable
The process aims to heal wounds and pay homage to the victims
- Who
- Victims of Franco's regime, including Luis Garcia Hernandez or Julio Maroto Ortega
- What
- Exhumation of remains
- When
- Started in 2000 by victim associations, picked up by the government in 2018
- Where
- Vegas de Matute, Spain
- Why
- To recover and dignify the bodies of people buried in mass graves during the civil war and Franco's rule
Victim Associations & Government
Conservatives & Franco Supporters
Recovery & Honoring Victims
Victim Associations & Government
Left-wing groups and the current government believe it's crucial to recover and honor the victims to heal the country's wounds and acknowledge past crimes.
Conservatives & Franco Supporters
Conservatives and Franco supporters argue that the recovery process is divisive and that Spain should focus on moving forward, not dwelling on the past.
- Estimated total victims
- Around 114,000
- Recoverable victims
- Around 20,000
- Bodies found so far
- Around 9,000
- Expected completion
- Next four years
- Government initiative
- Started in 2018 by the Socialist-led government