General Archive of the Spanish Civil War, Salamanca

Established in 1999, this archive emerged from the Civil War section of Spain’s National Historical Archive and now forms a key component of the Historical Memory Documentary Centre. Its roots lie in decisions made during the Civil War, when the Francoist regime decreed the seizure of documents and properties belonging to political opponents. These materials were systematically archived in Salamanca for political and judicial uses.

Following Spain’s transition to democracy and the enactment of the Law of Historical Memory in 2007, the archive was redefined and integrated into a broader mission. Rather than serving as a tool of repression, it was transformed into a resource for understanding, researching, and acknowledging the country’s recent past-spanning the Civil War, Franco’s dictatorship, the exile, repression, and the transition to democracy.

Visitors can explore a free, permanent exhibition featuring Civil War-era posters, photographs, documents, as well as Masonic artifacts confiscated under Franco’s regime. A standout display is an evocative photographic recreation of Picasso’s Guernica, assembled from black-and-white wartime images, highlighting the visual and emotional narratives of conflict. The archive also hosts a digital portal documenting victims of the war and Francoist State.