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Background ( Committee for the Defense of Artistic Monuments of the Popular Front of Toledo)
During the march on Madrid, the rebel troops did battle in Toledo. In the city of Toledo, from the first moments of the summer of 1936, a defense of the monuments and works of art of the city was created, thus the Committee for the Defense of Artistic Monuments of the Popular Front of Toledo was founded. Since its constitution, the Committee's actions have been reflected in the meeting journals. -
The Board for Seizure and Protection of Artistic Heritage
On August 1, 1936, the Board for Seizure and Protection of Artistic Heritage was created with the function of "seizure or conservation on behalf of the State of all works, movable or immovable, of artistic, historical or bibliographic value, which in the abnormal present circumstances offer, danger of ruin, loss or deterioration». But their work was hampered in many cases because the works to be rescued belonged either to the church or to private collections. -
Evacuation planning
The evacuation fell to the Defense Board of the National Artistic Treasure. A series of preliminary operations are carried out, such as: the selection of the works to be evacuated, the carrying out of examinations and the preparation of files and reports, the preparation of the works and transport packaging, the search for trucks on the battle front, the delivery and placement of the works in provisional deposits and their definitive installation. -
Transfer to Valencia
After the careful packaging of the works, they are assembled in military trucks equipped with fire-fighting measures were used that will go to Valencia. Most had to be conditioned with iron supports capable of including the packaging of the works. Upon arrival in Valencia, they were delivered by certificate to the General Directorate of Fine Arts.The works were deposited in two buildings that were protected with special structures against possible bombing. -
Transfer to the north of Catalonia. Figueres Castle
The works are moved to Catalonia where they are buried 250 meters deep in the mines owned by the Giralt Canta brothers and inducted by the Government of the Republic in 1937. Some of the works were previously kept in the Peralada Castle and the Fortaleza de Figueras. The mine becomes an isolated fortress with its armored doors, its own electricity generators, offices, rooms and other dependencies capable of allowing life inside. -
End of the Civil War
Barely three weeks after the end of the Civil War in Madrid, it is demanded that the heritage of the Prado Museum be returned to the Spanish State. Under the threat of a new world war, an inventory is requested from the Secretary General of the League of Nations containing the works before they enter the Museum. A train kept the works of the Prado Museum in its holds. The works finally arrive in October 1939 after a journey of almost three years outside the Prado Museum.