Elisa Garrido facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Elisa Garrido García
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| Nickname(s) | "La Mañica" and "Françoise" |
| Born | 14 June 1909 Magallón, Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain |
| Died | 19 March 1990 (aged 80) Toulouse, Occitania, France |
| Allegiance |  Republican faction French Resistance |
| Years of service | 1936-1945 |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
| Unit |  Confederal militias Ponzán group |
| Battles/wars | |
Elisa Garrido García (1909-1990) was a brave Spanish woman who fought against unfair governments. She was also known by her nicknames, La Mañica and Françoise. Elisa was a member of the Confederación Nacional del Trabajo (CNT), a workers' union. She fought against the Nationalist side in the Spanish Civil War. Later, she fought against the Nazi forces in France during World War II.
Elisa was held in several prisons and three concentration camps. She suffered harsh treatment there. For her brave actions in World War II, especially for blowing up a German factory, France honored her. She received the Legion of Honour and was recognized as a lieutenant in the French Resistance.
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Elisa's Early Life and Fight in Spain
Elisa Garrido was born on June 14, 1909, in a town called Magallón in Aragon, Spain. Her parents were active members of the Confederación Nacional del Trabajo (CNT). This group believed in a society where workers had more power.
Elisa later moved to Barcelona, where she met Marino Ruiz de Angulo. He became her partner. In July 1936, the Spanish Civil War began. Elisa joined the fight as a militiawoman, which means she was a civilian who helped the army. She went to the Aragon front, where battles were happening.
Joining the French Resistance
After the war ended in Spain, Elisa and Marino had to leave the country. They went to France and settled in Toulouse. There, they secretly helped other Spanish people who had also fled.
When Nazi Germany invaded France, Elisa and Marino joined the French Resistance. This was a secret group fighting against the German occupation. They worked with a group led by Francisco Ponzán. Elisa's job was to be a courier, carrying messages and helping people escape. It was during this time that she got her nicknames, La Mañica and Françoise.
Capture and Concentration Camps
In October 1943, the Gestapo, which was the Nazi secret police, arrested Elisa in Toulouse. They had been watching her because she often brought food to Francisco Ponzán, who was in prison. They thought she was his main messenger.
The Gestapo questioned Elisa harshly to get information about the Resistance. But Elisa stayed silent and did not tell them anything. She was held alone for three weeks. She was moved to different prisons in France.
On January 30, 1944, Elisa was sent to the Ravensbrück concentration camp. This was a very harsh camp. In September of that year, she was moved to the Buchenwald camp in Leipzig. There, she was forced to work for a company called HASAG. She had to make 7,000 shells every day in terrible conditions.
Elisa bravely carried out acts of sabotage at the factory. She caused problems that even stopped the factory's work. She managed to blow up part of the factory.
Release and Later Life
After her sabotage, Elisa was sent back to Ravensbrück. She was put in a special ward, waiting for a serious punishment. She was forced to unload coal and potatoes. After being beaten by guards, she broke her arm and went to the infirmary.
Luckily, Elisa was part of a prisoner exchange organized by the Red Cross. She was taken to Frankfurt, then to Denmark, and then to Sweden. She was finally set free in Stockholm. After that, she went to Paris, where she lived until the 1950s.
Later, Elisa and Marino returned to Spain. They lived in a town called Cortes de Navarra. Elisa ran a fish shop, and Marino worked as a taxi driver. After some years, they decided to move back to France. Elisa Garrido passed away in Toulouse on March 19, 1990.
Honors and Remembering Elisa
The French Republic recognized Elisa Garrido's important work during World War II. They honored her for causing the explosion at the German factory. She received France's highest award, the Legion of Honour. She was also given the honorary rank of lieutenant in the French Resistance.
In 2018, during an event about historical memory in her hometown of Magallón, a researcher named Juan Manuel Calvo Gascón first shared Elisa's story. He revealed the identity of "La Mañica" or "Françoise."
On June 29, 2019, the Magallón Town Council named a street after her. This was a way to remember her bravery. A few months later, in November, a special tribute was held for Elisa. Many journalists and local groups took part in remembering her contributions. Another tribute was paid to her at the Fosa de Magallón, a place of historical importance.
