The Shelters of the Spanish Civil War

History of the shelters.
Almería: 52 bombings, 754 bombs

The Spanish Civil War (1936–1939) profoundly marked the history of the entire country. Although Almería did not experience the conflict directly (it was the last city held by the Second Republic), the city suffered the effects of attacks from both air and sea: 52 bombings targeting military, strategic, and even civilian objectives.

Among all the bombings, the one on May 31, 1937, carried out by the German fleet stands out, resulting in 40 deaths, 150 injuries, and around 200 buildings destroyed.

In this wartime context, the citizens of Almería decided to undertake the construction of underground shelters and actively collaborate in their execution to protect themselves from bombs in case of alarm.

Almería became a true “Guernica,” but unfortunately without any kind of historical or political rehabilitation afterward.

A space for life

From October 1936 to the spring of 1938, municipal architect Guillermo Langle, canal engineer José Fornieles, and mining engineer Carlos Fernández oversaw the construction of 4.5 km of underground galleries at a depth of 9 meters, with 67 access points to accommodate 34,144 people (at that time, Almería’s population was around 50,000). The rest of the population took shelter in the natural refuges of the Iron Ore deposits of the Andalusian Mining Company and in the caves of La Chanca.

Langle thought of everything: ventilation with 100-millimeter diameter uralite pipes located near the entrances that could withstand hand grenade blasts; the placement of recesses and protrusions to prevent stampedes and act as shields in case of explosions; two copper wires to power the light bulbs illuminating the shelters; a pantry to store food in case of emergency; and even the installation of an operating room to treat the wounded.

Once the war ended, the access points were sealed with a series of rationalist kiosks designed by Guillermo Langle, which became part of the city’s urban furniture. Some of them can still be seen today in Plaza Urrutia, Plaza Conde Ofalia, and Plaza Virgen del Mar, although the latter has been significantly modified.

The shelters were never used again, but the galleries have remained dormant, running like a backbone beneath the city of Almería.

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