In the case of Hondarribia, as in the rest of Gipuzkoa, a series of repressive processes were implemented, extending several years after the end of the armed conflict. When analyzing Francoist repression, the first reference is the repression exercised by military authorities. From July 28, 1936, in territory controlled by the rebels, a State of War was d, placing much of the jurisdiction normally belonging to civil justice under military authority. The Military Justice Code established that proceedings should be conducted summarily, reducing the investigation period to five days, significantly limiting procedural guarantees.
Despite the severity of military repression, Hondarribia seems to have been relatively unaffected. Unreliable sources cite eight utions among residents, but all deaths occurred during the occupation of the town, suggesting extrajudicial killings or including militiamen uted at the Guadalupe fort. More reliable sources report no utions of residents, though some may have occurred elsewhere. Only one resident faced a Military Council: Arturo Hernández San Martín, doctor at the Guadalupe fort, acquitted but fined 1,000 pesetas by the Political Responsibilities Court (Beperet, 2001, 143).
On September 13, 1936, coinciding with the occupation of Donostia-San Sebastián, the first provincial capital seized by the rebels, the National Defense Council decreed the seizure of all property of persons and political parties opposed to the uprising. To implement this, the Provincial Commission for the Seizure of Assets of Gipuzkoa (C.P.I.B.) was created following the January 9, 1937 decree establishing the Central Commission for the Seizure of Assets, appointed by the President of the Technical Council on January 20, 1937. On January 26, the C.P.I.B. was formed, chaired by the Civil Governor José María Arellano, with members Juan Cobián Fredo (magistrate) and Wenceslao de Archaud (state attorney).
The commission held its first session on August 6, 1937. By August, approximately 1,000 cases had been opened against “those considered guilty of acts against the Glorious National Movement,” estimating sanctions could raise 400 million pesetas. In Hondarribia, at least ten residents had their properties seized, generating 5,547.79 pesetas, a notable amount though lower than in Irun (14,325.60 pesetas).
In February 1939, the Political Responsibilities Law (L.R.P.) was enacted to “liquidate the faults of those contributing to the red subversion.” The Regional Tribunal of Political Responsibilities of Navarre, operating in Gipuzkoa via the Donostia-San Sebastián court, processed 1,116 cases in its first two years. 1939 and 1945, 32 residents were prosecuted, 15 convicted with fines ranging from 75 to 15,000 pesetas. The harshest penalties fell on Juan Garmendia Idiazabal, municipal councillor, exiled 150 km and fined 15,000 pesetas in 1940. Other council members were also prosecuted, but only Urrutia, a nationalist councillor, was sanctioned (2,000 pesetas).
Many prosecuted residents were in exile after the September 1936 exodus. Fourteen fled (four died, seven returned, three remained in France). The fines imposed under the L.R.P. exceeded €75,000. By ideology, republicans were the largest group (12), followed by nationalists (7), though all nationalists were condemned, representing 73% of total sanctions.
Repression extended to all aspects of life. On December 16, 1936, the municipal government, following the civil governor’s instructions, dismissed 17 officials absent since evacuation. Twelve teachers were investigated; four were sanctioned, three permanently dismissed. Ambrosio Saseta Lázaro stood out: accused of Basque nationalism despite exemplary moral conduct. He returned in July 1940. Others were punished for leaving the town, with exclusions lasting until 1946.
During WWII, Hondarribia’s proximity to France made it sensitive to Spanish maquis actions. In November 1944, 40 maquis landed intending to reach Bizkaia and Santander. Most were arrested and tried by court-martial; five sentenced to death, including Pedro Barroso, uted in 1945. Several remained imprisoned until the early 1960s. In June 1945, several local fishermen were arrested, linked to Spanish Communist Party members.