Las Trece Rosas facts for kids

Plaque in the cemetery wall.

"Las Trece Rosas" (which means "The Thirteen Roses") is a name given in Spain to a group of thirteen young women. They were killed by soldiers loyal to Franco shortly after the Spanish Civil War ended. This happened as part of a large number of executions in August 1939, sometimes called the "saca de agosto" (the "August round-up"). Many other young people, including 43 young men, were also killed during this time.

Who Were the Thirteen Roses?

The thirteen young women were:

• Carmen Barrero Aguado (age 24)
• Martina Barroso García (age 22)
• Blanca Brissac Vázquez (age 29)
• Pilar Bueno Ibáñez (age 27)
• Julia Conesa Conesa (age 19)
• Adelina García Casillas (age 19)
• Elena Gil Olaya (age 20)
• Virtudes González García (age 18)
• Ana López Gallego (age 21)
• Joaquina López Laffite (age 23)
• Dionisia Manzanero Salas (age 20)
• Victoria Muñoz García (age 19)
• Luisa Rodríguez de la Fuente (age 18)

Seven of these women were under 21 years old. At that time in Spain, 21 was considered the age when someone became an adult.

Why Were They Arrested?

After Madrid was taken by Franco's forces and the Civil War ended, a youth group called the Unified Socialist Youth (JSU) tried to reorganize. This group was formed by combining the Socialist Youth and the Communist Youth.

A 21-year-old leader named José Peña Brea was arrested. Under pressure, he shared the names of others working with him. This led to many JSU members being arrested in Madrid, including the Thirteen Roses.

Life in Prison and Their Deaths

The Thirteen Roses were held in Ventas prison. Conditions in the prison were very difficult, with too many people and not enough space.

They were put to death by a firing squad on August 5, 1939. This happened against a wall at the East Cemetery, which is now called La Almudena Cemetery. Many people who were in prison with them remembered that as the women were driven away to their deaths, they sang their group's song, "Youthful Guardsmen." They sang loudly so their friends still in prison could hear them.

The women were accused of helping a military uprising and of being involved in the killing of a police officer, his daughter, and his driver. However, they were already in prison when that killing happened.

Remembering the Thirteen Roses

In 2005, a special group called the Fundación Trece Rosas (Thirteen Roses Foundation) was created in Spain. Its goal is to keep the memory of these young women alive and to share their story.

See also

In Spanish: Las Trece Rosas para niños