A new memorial sculpture will be erected in Angoulême, France, to honor 927 Spanish Republicans who were deported from the city in 1940. The sculpture, shaped like the number "927," will be inaugurated on August 20, 2026, near the L'Alpha media library, just meters away from where the deportation convoy originally departed.
The memorial project has been initiated by the Association of Spaniards of Charente, which has worked to preserve the memory of these Spanish Republicans who fled to France during the Spanish Civil War and were later deported during World War II. Each year, the association holds a commemoration ceremony to remember the 927 deportees who were sent away from Angoulême.
According to Grégorio Lazaro, president of the Association of Spaniards of Charente, local authorities have already approved the memorial project. "The local communities have approved the project," Lazaro stated, indicating strong municipal support for the initiative.
The sculpture will be strategically positioned near the L'Alpha media library, close to the historical location where the deportation convoy departed decades ago. However, the exact placement of the memorial must still be validated by the French Building Architects (Architectes des Bâtiments de France), who oversee the preservation and development of France's architectural heritage.
This memorial represents an important step in preserving the memory of Spanish Republicans who sought refuge in France during the turbulent period of the Spanish Civil War, only to face deportation during the German occupation of France. The sculpture will serve as a permanent reminder of this tragic chapter in both Spanish and French history, ensuring that the stories of these 927 individuals are not forgotten by future generations.
