A journey through the history of those who risked their lives to save fugitives from Nazism and Francoism
Many people had to cross the border between Catalonia and France to escape the repression and persecution of the totalitarian regimes that ravaged Europe in the 20th century. But they did not do it alone, but had the help of brave and supportive people who guided them along the safest paths and provided them with resources and documentation. These were the pins, characters who played a key role in the defense of freedom, independence and democracy, but who have been marginalized and silenced by official history. Now, thanks to the work of the Reeixida Foundation, we want to recover his memory and his legacy through the Routes of Freedom, routes that show the places and stories that starred the pins and their protégés.
Paths full of life and death
One of the itineraries proposed by the Fundació Reeixida is the one that goes from Rosselló, to Banyuls de la Marenda, to Alt Empordà, passing through Portbou, Colera, Llançà, Rabós and Vilamaniscle. This route, which today has great scenic appeal, hides a dramatic and exciting story: that of the pushers who risked their lives to save refugees fleeing war and dictatorship. The first to need his help were the Jews who were persecuted by the Nazis, among whom there were personalities such as the French senator Tizier, the Belgian minister Maurice Clavel or the French minister of war Monteil. Then, there were the military, the allied soldiers, the politicians and the victims of Francoism, among whom there were Catalanists, communists, anarchists and socialists. The smugglers facilitated their passage across the border, provided them with false documentation and put them in contact with the secret services of allied countries. Their goal was to reach Barcelona, where they could find refuge in the Polish or British consulate.
Some names to remember
The pins were people of different origins and ideologies, but who shared the same ideal: the fight against fascism and the defense of freedom. Many of them were Catalanists and independenceists, who did not accept the defeat of the Republic and continued the resistance from exile or from underground. Some examples are Rosa Soler Tecul, a woman from Figueres who collaborated with the French resistance against the Nazi occupation, and Gregori Font, an Aragonese who returned from the French State, after passing through a concentration camp, to organize the flight of many refugees. Their names and those of many others have been forgotten or ignored by official history, which has denied them the recognition and tribute they deserve. Until recently, their families had not received any gesture from the Parliament of Catalonia or from the government, who still have pending moral and political reparation. The Fundació Reeixida wants to contribute to doing justice with his memory and his dignity, and therefore organizes cultural, educational and tourist activities to spread his achievements and his values.
