Podcast Summary: "El principio del fin de Unamuno, adiós a la rectoría"

Podcast: Todo Concostrina (SER Podcast)
Host: Nieves Concostrina
Date: October 31, 2023
Episode: Acontece que no es poco

Main Theme

This episode delves into the final days of Miguel de Unamuno’s position as rector of the University of Salamanca and his principled opposition to both monarchic and fascist oppression during the Spanish Civil War. Through Nieves Concostrina’s characteristic directness and critical lens, the episode unpacks the orchestrated campaign—political, social, and personal—to isolate, silence, and ultimately "eliminate" Unamuno, an emblematic intellectual figure who refused to submit to Franco's regime.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Context: From Baroja to Unamuno (00:27–01:00)

• The episode picks up from the previous day's discussion about Pío Baroja and the contrast between Baroja's civil burial and the unresolved fate of Unamuno.
• Both Baroja and Unamuno are presented as intellectuals who did not align with the Francoist ideology.

2. The Dismissal and Political Manipulation (01:00–02:53)

• On October 30, 1936, Esteban Madruga replaces Unamuno as rector—formally ordered by Franco and printed in the "Boletín Oficial de la Junta de Defensa Nacional."
• Nieves notes the manipulative language:

  "[El BOE] es la manera que tiene la derecha de enmerdar el lenguaje porque ni son nacionales ni defendían España..." — Nieves, 02:29

3. The Multi-Level Repudiation of Unamuno (03:31–06:03)

• Social ostracism follows immediately after the famous October 12, 1936, confrontation with Millán Astray. Unamuno is insulted at the Casino de Salamanca and never returns.
• Local government (the Salamanca city corporation) strips him of his honorary mayoral status, citing "incompatibilidad moral corporativa, vanidad delirante y antipatriótica actuación ciudadana" (moral incompatibility, delirious vanity, and unpatriotic civic conduct).
• The university's academic body removes its confidence in Unamuno and requests Franco to dismiss him, culminating in official ostracism by the regime.
• The systemic repudiation is summed up:

  “Otra trampa de la derecha con el lenguaje, el llamar antipatriota al patriota, cuando los antipatriotas son ellos.” — Nieves, 05:15

4. The Disguised Arrest and Threats (06:28–09:40)

• Though never officially arrested, Unamuno is effectively under house arrest; it is well understood that leaving his home could mean death.
• A threatening letter to his son from a Falangist officer:

  “…sería doloroso que a tu padre… pudiera sucederle algún incidente desagradable…” — Quoted by Nieves, 06:50

• The newly published book by Carlos Sá Mayoral, Miguel de Unamuno, muerte natural o crimen de Estado, is recommended for further insight.
• A policeman from the SIM (Servicio de Inteligencia Militar) is stationed outside Unamuno’s house with orders to shoot if he tries to flee, revealing the intent to kill masked as protective custody.

5. Silenced Legacy and the "Appropriation" of Unamuno (09:40–11:03)

• The right manipulated Unamuno’s legacy, presenting him for decades as sympathetic to the Francoist cause.
• Unamuno was, in reality, a staunch antifascist:

  “Y sí, es verdad, era un señor de derechas, pero era un furibundo antifascista. Unamuno bramaba contra la derecha que se unía al fascismo.” — Nieves, 10:00

6. Unamuno's Hidden Antifascist Testimonies (11:09–13:01)

• Unamuno’s antifascist statements primarily survive in conservative foreign press, especially in France, which was not subject to Francoist censorship.
• Clear denunciations of the regime:

  “La Falange es el fascio italiano, que con ella se acrecienta el terror en España...” — Unamuno via French press, recounted by Nieves, approx. 12:10
  "Sería muy triste que al bárbaro, anticivil e inhumano régimen bolchevístico, se quisiera sustituir con un bárbaro, anticivil e inhumano régimen de servidumbre totalitaria." — Unamuno, cited 12:30

7. The ABC Hoax and Unamuno’s Retort (13:07–15:14)

• The pro-regime newspaper ABC publishes a fabricated letter supposedly from Unamuno, declaring allegiance with the golpistas ("coup supporters").
• Unamuno’s scathing reply to ABC, never published by the paper but preserved:

  "Lo publicado es mentira y usted lo sabe... Por muchas que hayan sido las atrocidades de los mandos rojos, son mayores las de los blancos... Da asco ser ahora español desterrado en España... y todo esto lo dirige una mala bestia ponzoñosa y rencorosa que es el general Mola." — Unamuno, letter dated December 11, 1936 (approx. 14:00) "Los métodos de los fascistas no son cristianos, sino católicos a la española tradicionalista, es decir, anticristianos." — Nieves parafrasing Unamuno, 14:45

• Twenty days later Unamuno died, still shrouded in controversy over whether it was a "natural" death or an assassination.

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• On regime language manipulation:

  "El BOE es la manera que tiene la derecha de enmerdar el lenguaje porque ni son nacionales ni defendían España." — Nieves, 02:29

• On social and political ostracism:

  "...El repudio social empezó ese mismo día, ese 12 de octubre por la tarde..." — Nieves, 03:45
  "No se pueden decir más tonterías en tan pocas líneas. Otra trampa de la derecha con el lenguaje, el llamar antipatriota al patriota..." — Nieves, 05:15

• On Franco’s motives:

  "...Había que morirlo más que matarlo." — Nieves, 08:29

• On Unamuno’s antifascism:

  "Unamuno bramaba contra la derecha que se unía al fascismo. Es que Unamuno hoy a Feijóo le daría un par de collejas directamente." — Nieves, 10:00

• On Unamuno’s public reply to ABC:

  "Lo publicado es mentira y usted lo sabe... son mayores las de los blancos. Da asco ser ahora español desterrado en España... y todo esto lo dirige una mala bestia ponzoñosa y rencorosa que es el general Mola." — Unamuno, 14:00–14:30

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Intro & linkage with prior episode: 00:27–01:00
• Official dismissal of Unamuno: 01:00–02:53
• Cascade of repudiations (social, political, academic, official): 03:31–06:03
• House arrest and threats against Unamuno: 06:28–09:40
• Exposing manipulation of Unamuno’s image: 09:40–11:03
• Antifascist statements in foreign press: 11:09–13:01
• ABC hoax and Unamuno's response: 13:07–15:14

Closing Thoughts

This episode underscores the importance of reclaiming historical memory and unmasking propaganda, with Nieves Concostrina advocating for an honest reckoning with figures like Unamuno—intellectuals appropriated by the Francoist regime but whose true legacies are antifascist and republican. The narrative is rich with critical humor, sharp language, and a clear determination to bring concealed truths to light.