The Closure of the Border between Gibraltar and Spain 1969

 GIBRALTAR, ISOLATED FROM SPAIN

The closure of the frontier ordered by Spanish dictator, General Francisco Franco on 8 June 1969 was part of a two-pronged approach on Gibraltar in response to the Gibraltar Constitution Order 1969. The first being a campaign against the United Kingdom at the United Nations. The second was direct action against Gibraltar and its people on the ground. The consequences were instant for thousands of Gibraltarians as well as citizens across the border, as families were separated and was a major impediment on the development of the 'Campo de Gibraltar' (located across the border from Gibraltar). With this General Franco predicted and expected the demise and fall of Gibraltar. He was proven wrong.

Citizens at the Frontier Gate protesting

FRANCO'S IMPACT

According to the press, which was state-controlled, the closure of the frontier and cutting off of all types of communication between Gibraltar and Spain was happily welcomed by the majority of the Spanish population. It was proclaimed that as from the closure of the border, construction within Gibraltar would immediately come to a halt as approximately 1,500 Spanish building workers would have been lost by Gibraltar alongside around 2,000 Spaniards employed in servicing ships. In addition to these occupations, huge amounts of Spaniards were employed as bakers, electricians, mechanics amongst numerous other jobs in Gibraltar adding to the massive loss of income. In total around 4,800 Spanish citizens lost their jobs in Gibraltar. All those Spaniards working in Gibraltar were forced to leave before the border closed and there was to be absolutely no crossing of any persons under any circumstances with supplies and communications being cut off too. Franco reassured those Spanish workers that they would receive money for enough time to enable them to find another job in Spain as they would not suffer in any way. Moreover, on 27 June 1969, the Ferry linking Gibraltar with Algeciras made its last journey across the bay, meaning that Gibraltar became entirely isolated by land as well as by sea.

Spanish workers leaving Gibraltar with their belongings and tools before the closure of the border

WE WILL NEVER SURRENDER!

Gibraltar turned to Morocco for labour and food, and strengthened its ties with the United Kingdom. This was seen through Britain's action towards Spain, for example, their complaints regarding Spain breaking internationally accepted standards of behaviour done via the closing of the border and termination of the ferry service. The Foreign Office protested "The Spanish Government cannot seriously believe that any British Government could hand over the people of Gibraltar to a government which has done them so much harm already and which demonstrates unrelentingly that its immediate object is to disrupt the daily life of Gibraltar and destroy the people’s livelihood." This also came after protests by Gibraltarians and their supporters marched through London to 10 Downing Street. Furthermore, the closure of the frontier helped shape Gibraltarian's sense of identity as a people as General Franco's attempt to bring Gibraltar to its knees had evidently failed. Gibraltar survived. 

For La Linea, Spain, the population instantly saw a gradual reduction, affecting the economy of the area resulting in backlash from the citizens there who engaged in protests and demands for the reopening of the border.

By Niall Serra