Catalogue Number
NMLH.1994.168.146.4
Object Name
Poster
Title
Spanish Civil war poster - part of portfolio - "Feixisme NO!" (no to fascism).
People
Francisco Franco, Rafael Alberti, Maria Teresa Leon
Events
The Spanish Civil War
Date
1968
Description
Large poster part of Spanish Civil war portfolio collection - this is an anti-fascist propaganda poster of the PSU or Partido Socialista Unificado, from 1936, on which is written in Catalan "Feixisme no!" - this translates to "No to Fascism." The poster shows a Francoist and nationalist soldier carrying a bloody knife/sword, being gripped by a large red hand - this hand could represent the republic/the left leaving popular front. The poster is black, green, red and white. The solider is wearing a grreen uniform with red shading on his face and hands, with red blood on the knife, In white text, it says "P.S.U" at the top, and "FEIXISME NO!" at the bottom. 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.
