My mom’s side of the family had a significant factory of footwear in Catalunya, Spain. During the Spanish Civil War, the factory that was run by my great grandfather and his 2 brothers was burned to the ground. They’d come into the conclusion that it was the Republican workers who did it. After the incident, my great grandfather was brought to a concentration camp and was interrogated about who was responsible for the burning. He, knowing the accountable, refused to give them up since the consequences for the workers would have been execution. Finally, they let them go but they weren’t able to reopen the factory anymore under those circumstances.

 

Submitted by Carla Alcalà

Edited by Paula Chang