New Book Explores Canary Islands’ Civil War History and Repression

Historical memory in the Canary Islands has been given a fresh boost with the release of Entre primaveras (Between Springs), a new book by surgeon and former senator José Vicente González Bethencourt. As reported by Diario de Avisos, the work explores the events that shaped the archipelago in July 1936, shedding light on a period often overlooked by mainland historians.

Drawing on his background in research and access to oral testimonies, González Bethencourt blends historical facts with narrative storytelling. His goal is to show modern readers the reality of the repression in the islands; while there was no conventional frontline, there was a systematic and harsh persecution of those loyal to the Second Republic.

The book reconstructs the events of July 18, 1936, in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, when military forces moved from the Captaincy General to the Palacio de Carta, leading to the fall of the Civil Government. This episode—which ended in the arrest and execution of figures like Governor Manuel Vázquez Moro, Secretary Isidro Navarro López, and Mayor José Carlos Schwartz Hernández—serves as the foundation for the author’s analysis of the era’s social divide. Through fictionalized characters, he illustrates how political polarization and tensions between labor movements and conservative groups disrupted daily life.

The book, which is the result of years of research, will be presented on June 18 at the Cabildo de Tenerife, with speakers Cecilia Domínguez Luis and Mariano Gambín. González Bethencourt highlights the importance of remembering figures like Manuel Bethencourt del Río, whose life was cut short by the coup. Ultimately, the book serves as a reflection on the fragility of democracy and the dangers of political instability, offering a vital perspective on the Canary Islands' role in the Spanish Civil War.