José Blasco Hidalgo 1896 - 1941

Born 26.2.1896 in Orihuela
Died 9.12.1941 in Gusen

Biography

José Blasco Hidalgo was born on 26 February 1896 in Orihuela, Spain. He spent several years in the Spanish Legion and later married Salud Gómez. In late 1937 he took his leave of his family to fight in the Spanish Civil War. He left behind a daughter of four and son of two; his wife was pregnant with their third child, whom he would never meet. Years later his family received a letter with the news that he had died on 9 December 1941 in Gusen, a subcamp of Mauthausen.

Much later the family discovered, following some research, that he had been deported from France to Germany and interned under prisoner number 87343 in Stalag XI B Fallingbostel. From there he, along with other Spaniards, was transferred to Mauthausen on 27 January 1941. He was registered under prisoner number 5433 and classified as a 'Red Spaniard'. He was transferred from Mauthausen to Gusen, where he was assigned prisoner number 10205. The files note that he died on 9 December 1941 from 'general physical deterioration and circulatory failure' in Gusen.

 

Maite Blasco Hidalgo

 

Translation into English: Joanna White

Location In room