Experiences, songs and memories

Alegres
Soldados

Alfredo González Díez

Memories of a youth shaped by war, told through the songs that accompanied those years.

Period portrait, photograph 11 from the family archive

A shared memory

Alfredo’s family maintains this website to preserve his memory and make his work available to everyone. Thank you for exploring his story.

The book

What the songs
preserved forever.

Explore the book ↗

In Alegres Soldados, Alfredo González Díez brings together wartime experiences, memories of his comrades and the songs that accompanied those years.

His account explores the Spanish Civil War and the Second World War from a personal perspective: that of someone who wanted to record what he had experienced and heard.

Author’s introduction ↗Letter to readers ↗

“It is simply a matter of recounting the feelings and emotions of people whose youth was transformed by the wars of the twentieth century.”
Alfredo · Introduction to the book

Alfredo González Díez in his later years

The author

Behind the pages,
a life to remember.

Born in Ranedo de Curueño, in the mountains of León, Alfredo spent his life collecting the songs and memories that would eventually become this book.

His voice lives on in these pages, giving his family a way to keep sharing it.

Get to know Alfredo ↗

A life through the years

From memories to a book.

Select a date to discover its story and places.

1919BirthHis roots in the Curueño valley
He is born on 29 July in Ranedo de Curueño, in the mountains of León.
Family biographyRanedo de Curueño · View in the Atlas ↗
1938War interrupts his youth
In March he joins the army of the insurgent side and serves near Robledo de Chavela.
Family biography and the author’s memoriesRobledo de Chavela · View in the Atlas ↗
1941Bound for the Eastern Front
He enlists in the Blue Division on 28 June. As a supply corporal, he is responsible for provisioning his company.
Family biography and the book
1942Wounded and returning home
Wounded in Kolpino on 19 September, he returns to Spain on 4 November.
Family biography and the book’s accountKolpino · View in the Atlas ↗
1943Joining the Guardia Civil in Bilbao
The order of 27 January admits him to the Guardia Civil, assigns him to the 238th Coastal Command in Bilbao and provides for his administrative enrolment in February.
BOE, 2 February 1943 · p. 1125 · PDF ↗Bilbao · View in the Atlas ↗
1956El Gurriato is published
He publishes El Gurriato in the June issue of Formación, signing as a first corporal of the Guardia Civil.
Formación, no. 35, pages 15–18Read El Gurriato ↗
1980–1983Researching the history of the songs
He contacts the German consulate and the Washington Irving Library to gather information on music.
The author’s account and documents reproduced in the book
2007–2008Sharing his memories
He shares the book online and continues revising it, bringing his memories and songs to new readers.
Family website, tribute and references in the book
2009His legacyHis voice lives on
He dies on 8 April. His family preserves this website and keeps his book freely available.
Family note of 8 April 2009

Excerpts from the stories

Three ways to begin.

THE SONGS

Lili Marleen

A song runs through the book and also accompanies Alfredo’s tribute.

Read Chapter IV ↗

EVERYDAY LIFE

Winter and memory

The cold, supply difficulties and the humour with which soldiers faced life at the front.

Read Chapter VI ↗

COMRADES

I had a comrade

Songs as a way of remembering comrades and expressing shared feelings.

Read Chapter IX ↗

Places of memory

One life, many places.

Explore the Atlas and discover the places that shaped Alfredo’s life and the pages of his book.

Explore the Atlas ↗

Photo archive

Memories in pictures, too.

Portraits, companions and moments that put faces to Alfredo’s memories.

Explore the photographs ↗

A website maintained by his family

Keeping his voice close.

Alfredo devoted his later years to sharing this book and answering his readers. His family preserves this website in the same spirit, so that his memories can continue to reach those who wish to read them.

AlegresSoldados

What the songspreserved forever.

Behind the pages,a life to remember.