<P> The bombing of Guernica ( 26 April 1937 ) was an aerial bombing of the Basque town of Guernica during the Spanish Civil War . It was carried out at the behest of Francisco Franco 's nationalist government by its allies , the Nazi German Luftwaffe 's Condor Legion and the Fascist Italian Aviazione Legionaria , under the code name Operation Rügen . The town was being used as a communications center behind the frontline . The operation opened the way to Franco 's capture of Bilbao and his victory in northern Spain . </P>
<P> The bombing of Guernica ( 26 April 1937 ) was an aerial bombing of the Basque town of Guernica during the Spanish Civil War . It was carried out at the behest of Francisco Franco 's nationalist government by its allies , the Nazi German Luftwaffe 's Condor Legion and the Fascist Italian Aviazione Legionaria , under the code name Operation Rügen . The town was being used as a communications center behind the frontline . The operation opened the way to Franco 's capture of Bilbao and his victory in northern Spain . </P>
who was responsible for bombing the spanish town of guernica
who was responsible for bombing the spanish town of guernica
Francisco Franco 's nationalist government
Francisco Franco 's nationalist government