This article was written by Pedro Oiarzabal.
Martin, born on July 4, 1925, in Las Arenas, Getxo (Bizkaia), was one of the thousands of children evacuated by the Basque government in June 1937 to escape the aerial bombardments perpetrated by General Francisco Franco’s Italian and German allies against the civilian population. Martin and two younger brothers were sent to Belgium. At just 12 years of age, he became the head of his family during their exile and through the harsh times of World War II. In May 1940, Germany invaded Belgium. The Aguirres once again found themselves in the middle of a war.
During that last world conflict, Martin became an active member of a clandestine network in Belgium aiding and rescuing Jews from the Nazi regime. Despite being in his late teens, he saved the lives of a considerable number of children and teenage Jews. On January 11, 2011, Yad Vashem—The Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes’ Remembrance Authority—recognized Martin as one of “The Righteous Among the Nations.” He is one of the very few Basques recognized in this way.
Aguirre’s biographer, Dr. Pedro J. Oiarzabal, describes him “as a humble man of great integrity and honesty.” “I am proud to call him my friend,” the Basque diaspora specialist said. “As an oral historian, I began a series of interviews with Martin back in 2014 and we have stayed connected as much as possible through the years. I am still thanking him for agreeing to be interviewed and for narrating his life, which included some very painful moments and memories, which I will always treasure and protect.” Dr. Oiarzabal concludes, “we owe him so much for making this world a freer and better place under the very difficult circumstances that were World War II. We will forever be in his debt.”
Happy birthday, Zorionak, Martin!
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Greetings and thank you! A great book about Spain during the time of Franco. “Spain in our heart” by Adam Hochschild.
I believe that the reference about Belgium is about the Comet line.
The train station in Canfranc, on the border of Spain and France has been transformed into a luxury hotel!! I visited the station about 7 years ago–it was haunting to think about all the Jews who passed through there on their way to concentration camps.
I am old enough to remember how Franco was vicious and depraved toward the Basque people.
I was born and raised near Bordeaux, France. We welcomed and help them build a new life in a country that was not theirs. But you all need to know, that when Franco was still alive, if they returned to their beloved home land, they will never be seen again. If Franco guardia civil picked them up, they were jailed, tortured before being killed.
The word Franco makes my blood boil. This is a hell of a four of July but thank you for reminding the new generation about the sacrifices of their ancestors so they could have a better life.
Monique
I love your article, it reminded me of the life of my father in Barakaldo during the war, and how much they hated Franco. My grandfather worked as an electrician at Altos Hornos de Bilbao until the end of the war, when my uncle Felix Verano, escaping from Franco, crossed the Pyrenees with other Basques on the way to México. My uncle was a Captain in the Republican Corps of Engineers; he had to leave his dear Bilbao. But I’ll never forget all the stories of their life in Bilbao, so much so that my son has been in Bilbao several times to visit my family. My father was born in 1024.
I love your last lines; my blood also boils when I hear the name Franco.
Claudia
Thank you for sharing Claudia!
Thank you, Claudia–my uncle Luis, from Navarre, was lucky to escape over the Pyrenees. He and his friend separated before they crossed over to try to escape as stowed away on a ship to the Americas. His friend never made it –probably caught by the nazis guarding the border. Uncle Luis landed in Marseille and joined the French Foreign Legion till his retirement.
He married my father’s sister. He wanted to go back to his beloved Navarre but my aunt, his kids talked and us talked him out of it. Dad and his Basque friend would go to Irun, at the border so he could see on the other side–to Spain but, of course, it was not enough.
I feel blessed to be able to go every year and be able to cross over. I think about uncle Luis and the others.
You all take care and hugs your loved one.
Monique