Miguel García García facts for kids
Miguel García García (1908–1981) was a Spanish writer and a person who believed in anarchism. This means he thought people should live freely without a government telling them what to do. He was also held as a political prisoner during the time when Franco ruled Spain.
Early Life and Activism
When Miguel was young, he became interested in anarchism. His family were members of the Confederación Nacional del Trabajo (CNT). This was a big workers' union that supported anarchist ideas.
As a young boy, Miguel worked selling newspapers. He was hurt during a protest for better pay. After this, he left Barcelona and went to France. There, he learned to speak French.
Fighting for Freedom
During the Spanish Civil War, Miguel helped the side fighting against Franco. He secretly carried weapons across the French border into Republican Spain. He even led a group to get guns from shops in Barcelona.
Miguel fought in important battles during the war. After the anarchists were defeated, he spent two and a half years in a special camp. There, he became friends with Josep Lluís i Facerias and El Quico.
When they were set free, they joined the Spanish Resistance. This group secretly fought against Franco's rule. They helped rebuild the CNT union. They also smuggled guns and people across borders. They worked to stop Franco and his allies. Miguel was one of the few who survived these dangerous times.
Life After Prison
In 1949, Miguel García was captured. He was sentenced to death, but people around the world spoke up for him. Because of this, his sentence was changed to 20 years in prison.
While in Carabanchel Prison, he met Stuart Christie. After he was released in 1969, Miguel had to leave Spain. He wrote a book about his time in prison called Franco's Prisoner (1971). This book was also translated into German.
Miguel learned Italian and some English while in prison. He wanted to read newspapers in English. After leaving Spain, he traveled across Europe. He spoke out against Francoist Spain and helped organize more resistance.
In the mid-1970s, Miguel ran a place called the Centro Iberico in London. This was a meeting spot for Spanish people who had left their country and for anarchists. He also helped raise money for Spanish prisoners and their families. He worked with Albert Meltzer to do this. Miguel García died from tuberculosis.
His Writings
Miguel García wrote several books about his experiences and the anarchist movement. These books share his story and the stories of others who fought for freedom.
- Franco's Prisoner ISBN: 0-246-64070-7
- Prisionero de Franco. Los anarquistas en la lucha contra la dictadura. Traducción y notas José Ignacio Alvarez Fernández ISBN: 978-84-7658-979-3
- Looking Back After Twenty Years of Jail: Questions and Answers on the Spanish Anarchist Resistance ISBN: 1-873605-03-X
- Unknown heroes: biographies of Anarchist resistance fighters ISBN: 1-873605-83-8
See also
In Spanish: Miguel García (anarquista) para niños
