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The day Guernica died
How and why the cultural and religious capital of the Basque people was reduced to rubble by the Nazi Condor Legion air force. The first—and only—book to have interviewed all survivors of the blitzkrieg and those who launched it.
319 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1975
About the author
Gordon Thomas
123 books203 followersGordon Thomas (born 1933) is a Welsh author who has written more than fifty books.
Thomas was born in Wales, in a cemetery keeper's cottage where his grandmother lived. He had his first story published at nine years old in a Boy's Own Paper competition. With his father in the RAF, he traveled widely and was educated at the Cairo High School, the Maritz Brothers (in Port Elizabeth, South Africa) and, lastly, at Bedford Modern School. His first book, completed at the age of seventeen, is the story of a British spy in Russia during World War II, titled Descent Into Danger. He refused the offer of a job at a university in order to accompany a traveling fair for a year: he used those experiences for his novel, Bed of Nails. Since then his books have been published worldwide. He has been a foreign correspondent beginning with the Suez Crisis and ending with the first Gulf War. He was a BBC writer/producer for three flagship BBC programmes: Man Alive, Tomorrow's World and Horizon.
He is a regular contributor to Facta, the respected monthly Japanese news magazine, and he lectures widely on the secret world of intelligence. He also provides expert analysis on intelligence for US and European television and radio programs.His book Gideon's Spies: Mossad's Secret Warriors became a major documentary for Channel Four that he wrote and narrated: The Spy Machine. It followed three years of research during which he was given unprecedented access to Mossad’s main personnel. The documentary was co-produced by Open Media and Israfilm.
Gideon's Spies: Mossad's Secret Warriors has so far been published in 16 languages. A source for this book was Ari Ben-Menashe, a former Israeli intelligence agent, and legendary Israeli spy Rafi Eitan. According to Charles Foster in Contemporary Review: "Writers who know their place are few and far between: fortunately Mr Thomas is one of them. By keeping to his place as a tremendous storyteller without a preacher's pretensions, he has put his book amongst the important chronicles of the state of Israel."
Thomas was born in Wales, in a cemetery keeper's cottage where his grandmother lived. He had his first story published at nine years old in a Boy's Own Paper competition. With his father in the RAF, he traveled widely and was educated at the Cairo High School, the Maritz Brothers (in Port Elizabeth, South Africa) and, lastly, at Bedford Modern School. His first book, completed at the age of seventeen, is the story of a British spy in Russia during World War II, titled Descent Into Danger. He refused the offer of a job at a university in order to accompany a traveling fair for a year: he used those experiences for his novel, Bed of Nails. Since then his books have been published worldwide. He has been a foreign correspondent beginning with the Suez Crisis and ending with the first Gulf War. He was a BBC writer/producer for three flagship BBC programmes: Man Alive, Tomorrow's World and Horizon.
He is a regular contributor to Facta, the respected monthly Japanese news magazine, and he lectures widely on the secret world of intelligence. He also provides expert analysis on intelligence for US and European television and radio programs.His book Gideon's Spies: Mossad's Secret Warriors became a major documentary for Channel Four that he wrote and narrated: The Spy Machine. It followed three years of research during which he was given unprecedented access to Mossad’s main personnel. The documentary was co-produced by Open Media and Israfilm.
Gideon's Spies: Mossad's Secret Warriors has so far been published in 16 languages. A source for this book was Ari Ben-Menashe, a former Israeli intelligence agent, and legendary Israeli spy Rafi Eitan. According to Charles Foster in Contemporary Review: "Writers who know their place are few and far between: fortunately Mr Thomas is one of them. By keeping to his place as a tremendous storyteller without a preacher's pretensions, he has put his book amongst the important chronicles of the state of Israel."
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
February 7, 2015
This book is quite unusual, with a blending of fictitious details and fillers into one of the most well known events in the Spanish Civil War. The history is accurate, the people in the story are real, but the author has "fleshed" out the stories obtained via interviews to make the readers "get to know" the people and take personal interest.
Some folks call this historical fiction, and I guess there is an element of that in this book. That being said, there is a tremendous accounting of the events that should not be discounted one bit. It is sad to note all the destruction wrought by the Luftwaffe Condor Legion, but find that there was justification for the raid making the event perfectly acceptable warfare. Strange how many view this bombing as an atrocity, yet give short thrift to the identical bombing actions done by others (read the good guys) in World War 2. War is an atrocity in and of itself; no point in being politically correct or pretending otherwise.
I greatly enjoyed the book, and recommend it. It should be made more clear however that this book contains some fictitious material to help personalize the event. That does not diminish the historical value of the book one bit however, and it provides important details anyone interested in the Guernica bombing would want to know.
Some folks call this historical fiction, and I guess there is an element of that in this book. That being said, there is a tremendous accounting of the events that should not be discounted one bit. It is sad to note all the destruction wrought by the Luftwaffe Condor Legion, but find that there was justification for the raid making the event perfectly acceptable warfare. Strange how many view this bombing as an atrocity, yet give short thrift to the identical bombing actions done by others (read the good guys) in World War 2. War is an atrocity in and of itself; no point in being politically correct or pretending otherwise.
I greatly enjoyed the book, and recommend it. It should be made more clear however that this book contains some fictitious material to help personalize the event. That does not diminish the historical value of the book one bit however, and it provides important details anyone interested in the Guernica bombing would want to know.
January 10, 2023
Libro histórico que desgraciadamente no acaba bien, como todos sabemos. Narra el bombardeo a través de diferentes personajes de Guernica. En mi opinión estar casi 200 páginas hablando del vecino tal y del vecino cual, es para mi gusto excesivo. Se puede contextualizar en menos páginas aunque entiendo que es necesario.
June 3, 2019
Triste y real historia que se recuerda menos de lo que se merece, y que al menos a mí, me ha hecho sentir rabia y pena. Los autores consiguen contar los hechos bastante objetivamente (qué difícil!), en su mayor parte, desde el punto de vista de los supervivientes.
March 5, 2024
I really feel this book grades something more in line with 3.5 stars. I really enjoy books that give balanced coverage of all of the concerned parties, from the major political leaders such as Franco, to the immediate subordinates who carry out those orders, to the common soldier and also regular people just trying to live their lives. This book, in my opinion, focuses too much on the normal people and lower ranked military figures.
I don't believe any of the major political or military personages had a role in the planning or execution of the air raid on Guernica but I would have liked more on how they reacted in its aftermath. As it is, there are too many of the lesser characters, none of whom I'll ever read about again.
I don't believe any of the major political or military personages had a role in the planning or execution of the air raid on Guernica but I would have liked more on how they reacted in its aftermath. As it is, there are too many of the lesser characters, none of whom I'll ever read about again.
March 18, 2025
Narrative format
makes this easy to read. The principal people have distinct roles from the top military to the poor peasant. The events were recorded in their contemporary diaries and the authors interviewed many people years later. Of several books that I have read on the sue, this is the most direct and readable.
makes this easy to read. The principal people have distinct roles from the top military to the poor peasant. The events were recorded in their contemporary diaries and the authors interviewed many people years later. Of several books that I have read on the sue, this is the most direct and readable.
November 22, 2025
Excellent narrative of the bombing of innocents
Guernica was a small town in Basque Country in northern Spain’s that suffered a senseless bombing by the Nazis in pre-WWII during the Spanish Civil War on orders by General F. Franco.
Guernica was a small town in Basque Country in northern Spain’s that suffered a senseless bombing by the Nazis in pre-WWII during the Spanish Civil War on orders by General F. Franco.
May 4, 2016
Great book. It's a story that needs re-reading to remind us how wars start. Many thanks.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews