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On July 17, 1936, a civil war, considered by many to be the precursor to WWII, erupted in Spain. The war began with a series of insurrections within the military against the constitutional government of the Second Spanish Republic. The democratically elected government asked for assistance from other democracies, including France, Great Britain, and the United States, but they opted instead for a policy of non-intervention. The Nationalists, as the rebels were known, asked for and received aid from Nazi Germany and fascist Italy. Approximately 500,000 people died during the three years of the civil war. Spain provided the German Condor Legion and the Italian Aviazione Legionaria the perfect proving ground for their latest weapons technology and combat experience for their military. One of the most notorious aerial attacks leveled the Basque town of Guernica and was immortalized in a painting by Pablo Picasso.
On July 17, 1936, a civil war, considered by many to be the precursor to WWII, erupted in Spain. The war began with a series of insurrections within the military against the constitutional government of the Second Spanish Republic. The democratically elected government asked for assistance from other democracies, including France, Great Britain, and the United States, but they opted instead for a policy of non-intervention. The Nationalists, as the rebels were known, asked for and received aid from Nazi Germany and fascist Italy. Approximately 500,000 people died during the three years of the civil war. Spain provided the German Condor Legion and the Italian Aviazione Legionaria the perfect proving ground for their latest weapons technology and combat experience for their military. One of the most notorious aerial attacks leveled the Basque town of Guernica and was immortalized in a painting by Pablo Picasso.
Three thousand Spanish-born women from large eastern cities, led by Mrs. Ernestina Gonzales, Ph.D., the widow of an American killed in Spain's Civil War, marched on the State Department on April 4, 1938, making a formal plea to "revoke the arms embargo against the democratically elected Government of Spain." (Library of Congress; Harris & Ewing, photographer)
Javier (far right) in Germany with colleagues, c. 1934 (Malagón family collection)
Before the civil war, Javier Malagón, from Toledo, Spain, earned a law degree from the University of Madrid while Helena Perenya, from Lleida, was one of the first women to attend the University of Barcelona (UB) where she also earned a law degree. After graduating, Helena worked as the town counsel in a small town in Catalonia and Javier spent three years in Germany on a scholarship to study history. While in Berlin, Javier saw firsthand the evidence of Nazis tightening their grip on the German people. To his horror and feeling of complete helplessness, he witnessed one of his university professors dragged out of class by the Gestapo.
Before the civil war, Javier Malagón, from Toledo, Spain, earned a law degree from the University of Madrid while Helena Perenya, from Lleida, was one of the first women to attend the University of Barcelona (UB) where she also earned a law degree. After graduating, Helena worked as the town counsel in a small town in Catalonia and Javier spent three years in Germany on a scholarship to study history. While in Berlin, Javier saw firsthand the evidence of Nazis tightening their grip on the German people. To his horror and feeling of complete helplessness, he witnessed one of his university professors dragged out of class by the Gestapo.
Soon after, in July 1936 as the war in Spain began, Javier left Germany for Madrid but then returned to serve as first secretary to the Spanish Embassy in Berlin. This was a short-lived assignment because the Spanish government broke relations with Germany in October of the same year. Javier again returned to Spain and joined the Republican Army where he held several posts including in the Military Intelligence Section and as president of a military tribunal, an ironic twist as he was considered the black sheep of the family for pursuing a career in law instead of the military. He would say, “Soy un hombre muy pacífico. | I am a very peaceful man.”
Soon after, in July 1936 as the war in Spain began, Javier left Germany for Madrid but then returned to serve as first secretary to the Spanish Embassy in Berlin. This was a short-lived assignment because the Spanish government broke relations with Germany in October of the same year. Javier again returned to Spain and joined the Republican Army where he held several posts including in the Military Intelligence Section and as president of a military tribunal, an ironic twist as he was considered the black sheep of the family for pursuing a career in law instead of the military. He would say, “Soy un hombre muy pacífico. | I am a very peaceful man.”
In February of 1939, after three years of ferocious fighting and unimaginable violence, the Nationalists took complete control of Spain. Helena and Javier Malagón, who had recently married, had no option but to join more than half a million other Spaniards who crossed into France and into refugee or concentration camps. The choice to leave Spain was easy: because of the positions he held within the Republican government and the military, Javier would have been executed had he stayed. Thus began their long journey to Montgomery County, the place that their daughter, granddaughters, and great-granddaughters still call home.
In February of 1939, after three years of ferocious fighting and unimaginable violence, the Nationalists took complete control of Spain. Helena and Javier Malagón, who had recently married, had no option but to join more than half a million other Spaniards who crossed into France and into refugee or concentration camps. The choice to leave Spain was easy: because of the positions he held within the Republican government and the military, Javier would have been executed had he stayed. Thus began their long journey to Montgomery County, the place that their daughter, granddaughters, and great-granddaughters still call home.
Javier (on the right) with companions in the refugee camp, all wearing donated suits, 1939 (Malagón family collection)
Although at the beginning of their exile in France, Helena and Javier were sent to different camps, they were able to reunite eventually and in October of 1939, with aid from the Service of Evacuation of Spanish Republicans, they set sail on the De La Salle, the first passenger ship to leave Bordeaux after the outbreak of WWII. Half the passengers were Jews fleeing from the Nazis and the other half were Spanish refugees. The Atlantic crossing took a harrowing 20 days of rough seas and avoiding German U-Boats. When the ship arrived in St. Thomas, the Jewish passengers were allowed to disembark while the Spaniards had to continue on to Cuba and eventually to the Dominican Republic. There, Javier found work teaching at the University of Santo Domingo.
Although at the beginning of their exile in France, Helena and Javier were sent to different camps, they were able to reunite eventually and in October of 1939, with aid from the Service of Evacuation of Spanish Republicans, they set sail on the De La Salle, the first passenger ship to leave Bordeaux after the outbreak of WWII. Half the passengers were Jews fleeing from the Nazis and the other half were Spanish refugees. The Atlantic crossing took a harrowing 20 days of rough seas and avoiding German U-Boats. When the ship arrived in St. Thomas, the Jewish passengers were allowed to disembark while the Spaniards had to continue on to Cuba and eventually to the Dominican Republic. There, Javier found work teaching at the University of Santo Domingo.
Views from a few calmer days aboard the De La Salle, 1939 (Malagón family collection)
After seven years in the Dominican Republic, Javier was offered and accepted a position with the Pan American Institute of Geography and History in Mexico. This was a welcome move for the couple and their two-year old daughter, Maria Helena Malagón Perenya, as they were able to reunite with friends and family in the large community of Spanish exiles in Mexico.
After seven years in the Dominican Republic, Javier was offered and accepted a position with the Pan American Institute of Geography and History in Mexico. This was a welcome move for the couple and their two-year old daughter, Maria Helena Malagón Perenya, as they were able to reunite with friends and family in the large community of Spanish exiles in Mexico.
In 1952, Javier was awarded a Rockefeller Foundation Professorship in New York, and the family spent six months living with cousins in Bayside, Queens. Within a few months after their return to Mexico, Javier accepted a position with the Organization of American States (OAS), in Washington, D.C. Once again the family relocated, settling in Bethesda, Maryland. Javier became the Director of the Cultural Department and started the Fellowship Program at the OAS . Helena used her linguistic skills (Spanish, Portuguese, French, Italian, and English) to become a translator for the Pan American Health Organization. Their Bethesda home became not only the family hearth but the center of many social gatherings of the famous and not so famous friends and fellow exiles.
In 1952, Javier was awarded a Rockefeller Foundation Professorship in New York, and the family spent six months living with cousins in Bayside, Queens. Within a few months after their return to Mexico, Javier accepted a position with the Organization of American States (OAS), in Washington, D.C. Once again the family relocated, settling in Bethesda, Maryland. Javier became the Director of the Cultural Department and started the Fellowship Program at the OAS . Helena used her linguistic skills (Spanish, Portuguese, French, Italian, and English) to become a translator for the Pan American Health Organization. Their Bethesda home became not only the family hearth but the center of many social gatherings of the famous and not so famous friends and fellow exiles.
World-famous cellist Pablo Casals (seated, far right) relaxing with the Malagón family in their home in Bethesda, c. 1969 (Malagón family collection)
1 - Javier and Helena with their infant daughter Maria Helena in the Dominican Republic, 1944
2 - Maria Helena Malagón and Mercedes Perenya Gili in Mexico City, wearing the traditional folk dress of Madrid, Spain, 1949
(Malagón family collection)
After the death of Francisco Franco and Spain’s return to a democratic form of government, Javier Malagón joined the Spanish Embassy in Washington D.C. as the Cultural Counselor, a position he held until his death in 1990. His career as an eminent historian, writer, diplomat, university professor and lawyer that began in Berlin came full cycle. His beloved wife continued living in Montgomery County to be near her daughter, granddaughters and great-granddaughters until her death at the age of 95.
After the death of Francisco Franco and Spain’s return to a democratic form of government, Javier Malagón joined the Spanish Embassy in Washington D.C. as the Cultural Counselor, a position he held until his death in 1990. His career as an eminent historian, writer, diplomat, university professor and lawyer that began in Berlin came full cycle. His beloved wife continued living in Montgomery County to be near her daughter, granddaughters and great-granddaughters until her death at the age of 95.
Helena Malagón in front of her house on Osceola Rd. in Bethesda, 1990 (Photo by Maria Sprehn)
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