Maria Silva Cruz (20 April 1915 – 23 August 1936) was an
Andalusian anarchist
Anarchism is a political philosophy and Political movement, movement that seeks to abolish all institutions that perpetuate authority, coercion, or Social hierarchy, hierarchy, primarily targeting the state (polity), state and capitalism. A ...
and a hero of the
Casas Viejas Uprising in Spain. She was also known as "La Libertaria."
Biography
Silva Cruz was born and raised in
Casas Viejas (now Benalup-Casas Viejas) in
Andalusia
Andalusia ( , ; , ) is the southernmost autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community in Peninsular Spain, located in the south of the Iberian Peninsula, in southwestern Europe. It is the most populous and the second-largest autonomou ...
.
Her parents were
day laborers and her father, Juan Silva Gonzalez and her uncle were both members of the
Confederación Nacional del Trabajo
The (CNT; ) is a Spanish anarcho-syndicalist national trade union center, trade union confederation.
Founded in 1910 in Barcelona from groups brought together by the trade union ''Solidaridad Obrera (historical union), Solidaridad Obrera'', ...
(CNT), an
anarchist
Anarchism is a political philosophy and Political movement, movement that seeks to abolish all institutions that perpetuate authority, coercion, or Social hierarchy, hierarchy, primarily targeting the state (polity), state and capitalism. A ...
group which supported reforms for workers.
In January 1933, the CNT demonstrated in Casas Viejas and attempted to get the government's
Civil Guard to give up their power.
Silva Cruz and her friends, Manuel Lago and Gallinito, were part of the demonstrations on 11 January.
During the demonstrations, two guards were wounded.
More troops from the Civil Guard and
Assault Guard were sent in to stop the CNT.
Many of the villagers fled, but some anarchists attempted to hide in the house of Silva Cruz's grandfather, Francisco Cruz Gutiérrez, who was nicknamed ''Seisdedos'' ("Six fingers")''.''
The house was set on fire by the forces of the police and everyone inside was killed, except for Silva Cruz and a cousin.
She emerged, burned and carrying the young boy to safety.
She persuaded the guard not to kill her or the boy and then she fled to her mother's house.
Silva Cruz was arrested on 14 January 1933.
Silva Cruz was jailed at
Medina Sidonia and then transferred to
Cadiz for a month's imprisonment.
She met Miguel Perez Cordon, a member of the CNT while at Medina Sidonia.
Perez Cordon courted her and after two months, the couple moved to
Madrid
Madrid ( ; ) is the capital and List of largest cities in Spain, most populous municipality of Spain. It has almost 3.5 million inhabitants and a Madrid metropolitan area, metropolitan area population of approximately 7 million. It i ...
.
In May 1935, they had a son, Juan Perez Silva.
The family moved back to Andalusia, living in
Ronda.
eventually occupied Ronda in July 1936, and Perez Cordon fled to the mountains while Silva Cruz stayed with her young son at home.
She was arrested by the Civil Guard and her son was taken from her. She and two other people were
executed on 23 August 1936 at dawn.
Like many people who participated in the
Spanish Revolution, Silva Cruz's remains were never identified.
She was also never listed as officially dead until 2010.
Her son, who grew up with Silva Cruz's aunt, worked throughout his life to try to find Maria Silva Cruz's remains in order to bury them and plant flowers for her.
References
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Further reading
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External links
Maria Silva Cruzon Historia Casas Viejas
Maria Silva Cruzon Memoria Libertaria
{{DEFAULTSORT:Silva Cruz, Maria
1915 births
1936 deaths
Anarchists from Andalusia
Anarchists executed by Francoist Spain
Executed revolutionaries
Executed Spanish women
People executed by Spain by firing squad
People from La Janda
Spanish Anti-Francoists
Spanish revolutionaries
Women in the Spanish Civil War