“Testimony of a Republican Deserter”

‘Testimony of a Republican Deserter’ – Report drawn up by the Department after collecting various oral testimonies

The reconquest of Albergaria-a-Velha led to the scatter of a respectable number of Republican soldiers, who found themselves lost in these lands. One of them had the good fortune – as he, and the population, thought – to come across the home of Soldado Milhões, agreed as neutral territory, and, therefore, where he considered himself safe. Welcomed by the good hearts of those who saw in him a trembling boy instead of an enemy, the Republican had his wounds cleaned and disinfected, his stomach filled with what little there was, and a glass of red wine to wash it down. With his hands still shaking and gulps in his speech, the soldier shared with his hosts what he had seen in battle: ‘What you’re doing, I can’t say,’ he declared. ‘But you have people on your side who won’t die, that’s for sure.’ Due to the disbelief of those listening, he insisted: ‘I shot one in the forehead and stabbed another in the neck. The wounds were there, I even saw blood pouring from his throat, but those men were still standing and fighting, I can assure you! I couldn’t stand it. How do you kill what doesn’t die? How to win without killing?’ He blessed himself. ‘It’s not godly, and so I left, no matter how dishonourable the escape, and that’s why you have me here.’

Despite the oddness, neither the hosts nor the curious onlookers insisted on the matter, hoping that a night’s rest would calm down the young Republican, and the following day would shed more light on the facts. This wasn’t, however, possible, because, as has happened all too often, the day dawned with the boy’s body outside the straw mattress that had been laid out for him: he was found outside, already with the rigidity of the dead, and a piece of paper pinned to his shirt, on which they could see drawn a gun and barbed wire.

After enquiries among the locals, no suspects were found or arrested.