Catalogue Number
NMLH.1994.168.146.5
Object Name
Poster
Title
Portfolio collection of Civil War Posters in Spain - Poster, "Evacuate Madrid"
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 issued by the defence departmant in Madrid. It shows a woman and her child with their arms in the air looking scared - there are buildings and a tree behind them. They are both wearing blue dresses. Underneath this there is text in Spanisn - "Que tu familia no viva el drama de la guerra, Evacuar Madrid, Es Ayudar A La Victoria Final." This translates to " Do not let your family live the drama of war, to evacuate Madrid is to help in the final victory." When Madrid was first attacked by rebel forces in November 1936, thousands of the city's inhabitants fled to safety. By the end of November, over 250,000 women, children and seniors-about one-fifth of the city's total population-had relocated themselves to safer zones in Valencia and Barcelona. When the fighting stabilized in December, this spontaneous and voluntary emigration slowed dramatically. In response, the government of the city, then in the hands of the Junta Delegada de Defensa de Madrid, waged a campaign to encourage people to leave the capital. By depicting a woman and her daughter screaming while they look into the sky as if they see enemy bombers approaching, this image aims to convey the message that those not essential to the war effort should leave Madrid. 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.
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