Catalogue Number
NMLH.1994.168.146.2
Object Name
Poster
Title
Portfolio collection of Civil War Posters in Spain-anti nationalist cartoon
People
Francisco Franco, Rafael Alberti, Maria Teresa Leon
Events
The Spanish Civil War
Date
1968
Description
Large print, part of the portfolio of Civil War posters in Spain. This poster is titled "Los Nacionales" - the nationalists. The poster is of a large cartoon - there is a boat with five men standing inside. Each represents an ally of the nationalists. There is a bird sitting at the top, and there is a sign which says "Arriba Espana" which translates to "go Spain" - there is a broken map drawing of Spain next to this sign. The different figures in the boat are caricatures of figures/groups that were held responsible for the Nationalist party taking power. Each represents an ally of the Nationalists - an Italian in uniform with the fasces insignia on his chest; and a German diplomat with a swastika badge and a monocle. To the right of the Italian military are two North African soldiers; together with the three soldiers that peer out from the portholes in the lower section of the image, they represent the Moroccan troops that participated in the war. In using these figures, the designer makes an appeal to a prejudice traditionally held in Spain against North Africans; Spain colonised a large proportion of North Africa and enlisted many people to fight for the Nationalists.. A more specific reason for the North African soldiers to be derided in this Republican poster is the fact that they provided the enemy with the only truly organized and professional army in Spain during the first months of the war. Also in the boat, representing the Catholic Church is a portly cardinal, his hand raised in blessing. Three soldiers with rifles look out through three round portholes below. A sign nailed to the mast reads 'Arriba España' and a map of Spain hangs from a noose also attached to the mast. A parodied Spanish Eagle perches on top of the mast. They are all in a boat named "Junta de Burgos, registered in Lisbon - this is referencing the Nationalist headquarters and the origins of the uprising in Portugal. This poster was issued by the Ministry of Propaganda, which was one of the most active institutions in the production of propaganda posters in Republican Spain. This portfolio collection considers the Spanish Civil War, which was from 1936-1939. In July 1936,General Franco launched a coup de ta against the left wing, democratically elected government. The fascist army were assisted by Germany and Italy, and the forces of the republic were weak in comparison - but they were provided with some weapons by the Soviet Union. Atrocities were committed by both sides and the war death toll was up to 500,000 people. The war saw republicans loyal to the left-leaning popular front government of the Second Spanish Republic, in alliance with both communist and syndicalist anarchists, fought against an insurrection by the nationalists, an alliance of Falangists, monarchists, conservatives and traditionalists. The war involved class struggle, religious struggle, struggles between dictatorships and democracy, fascism and communism and revolution. The Nationalists won the wore, who were led by Franco. During the war he commanded Spain's African colonial army. After he won the civil war, his dictatorship became cemented across Spain, enforced through the repression of political opponents, the use of forced labour, concentration camps and executions.
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