La Pasionaria: Heroine of the Spanish civil war

Witness History

BBC

History, Personal Journals, Society & Culture

4.4 • 1.6K Ratings

🗓️ 10 February 2025

⏱️ 11 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Dolores Ibárruri was nicknamed La Pasionaria for her fiery speeches to the anti-fascist forces during the Spanish civil war. The fighting had begun in July 1936. Troops, led by General Francisco Franco, launched an uprising against the democratically-elected government. These Nationalist rebels were backed by Adolf Hitler in Germany and Benito Mussolini in Italy.

On the other side were supporters of the Republican government, including Spain’s communist party, and Dolores was one of its leaders. She was already known for her speeches against fascism, but it was the civil war that sealed her reputation as a passionate and persuasive speaker. Her favourite phrase even became a battle cry for the Republicans: “No pasaran! They shall not pass!” Jane Wilkinson has been looking through the archives to find out more.

Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more.

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Transcript

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0:38.0	sounds.
0:43.3	Welcome to the Witness History podcast from the BBC World Service with me, Jane Wilkinson.
0:51.0	I'm taking you back through the archives to meet a woman nicknamed La Pasionaria, a communist leader whose fiery speeches inspired the anti-fascist fighters during the Spanish Civil War of the 1930s.
1:07.4	People of Spain, on your feet, women, defend the lives of your children, defend the freedom of your men.
1:17.3	Be ready to make all imaginable sacrifices rather than allow the forces of oppression to triumph.
1:27.0	That was Dolores Ibaruri, speaking in a 1936 campaign film.
1:33.2	Although at the time, most people knew her by a different name, La Passenaria.
1:40.5	Well, it was her popularity which created her name La Pasionaria. In English, it's a passion flower.
1:49.7	And that's Simon Hirschman, who was a young man travelled to Spain from Latvia to join the communist cause.
1:56.6	He was one of thousands of fighters stirred by La Passienaria's words.
2:00.8	The woman inspired us all. Encapsulate. He was one of thousands of fighters stirred by La Pasionaria's words.
2:08.5	The woman inspired us all, encapsulated the spirit of what we were fighting for.
2:15.2	There were so many opposing views how to carry on the struggle.
2:19.0	She understood that was her greatest strength.
2:26.8	Spain's civil war had erupted in July 1936. Troops, led by General Francisco Franco,
	...

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