What Were Wall Newspapers?

Discover one of the main ways of disseminating ideology and culture during the Spanish Civil War.

Elaboration of a wall newspaper (1936) by EstampaPablo Iglesias Foundation

Wall newspapers were one of the Republican side's main tools for disseminating ideology and culture during the Spanish Civil War. They were made up of military, political, and cultural articles and news, as well as comic strips.

Wall newspapers were put up in places where as many people as possible would see them. They were made using thick brown paper, which could withstand rougher handling than regular paper.

Cheers! Heroic defenders of Asturias (1937) by UnknownPablo Iglesias Foundation

More and more items would be attached to the paper, ranging from military, political, and cultural pieces to jokes and comic strips.

Wall Poster Exhibition VI (1938) by CrónicaPablo Iglesias Foundation

The political commissar was in charge of producing the newspapers, along with battalion members and anyone else who was willing and able to contribute.

Wall Poster Exhibition VI (1938) by CrónicaPablo Iglesias Foundation

Wall newspapers were also exhibited in competitions, which meant that they became more and more elaborate, with both individuals and political and cultural organizations taking part.

Solidarity... (1938) by UnknownPablo Iglesias Foundation

Let's look at some examples and what kinds of issues they dealt with.

Women (Circa 1937) by UnknownPablo Iglesias Foundation

Women in the civil war

Women were a mainstay of the Republican rear guard. They had to take on the jobs that were once done by the men who had left to fight at the front. Mobilizing women was also one of the main goals of the political parties and workers' unions.

The call to evacuate cities featured constantly in republican posters, evoking the idea of women as mothers and saviors. The Republic also heavily tapped into the legendary idea of militiawoman in its propaganda.

Fascism - Democracy (1937) by UnknownPablo Iglesias Foundation

The Republic's social policies

The successes of the Republic's social policies were communicated through all advertising media, including wall newspapers, which enabled the message to be conveyed more fully than in a simple text.

"All united... (1937) by UnknownPablo Iglesias Foundation

Call for united action

From the start of the civil war, the Republic understood the need to unite its forces to fight off the rebel troops. The call for unity and a single command was another key theme of the Republic's propaganda.

The process of developing the popular militia into the Republic's new army was problematic, because of the number of different forces involved, their differing ideologies, and the lack of a unified chain of command that was prepared to carry out the task.

The greatest guarantee... (1937) by UnknownPablo Iglesias Foundation

Free Andalusia (Circa 1937) by UnknownPablo Iglesias Foundation

Free Andalusia

The phrase "Andalucía libre (Free Andalusia)" was historically used by those in favor of the region's autonomy, and has been included in its anthem since 1936. It was also used by the Liberalist Regional Government of Andalusia (Junta Liberalista de Andalucía), which pushed for Andalusian autonomy from 1931. It was the successor of the Andalusian Centers (Centros Andaluces), which were banned in 1923.

Cheers! Heroic defenders of Asturias (1937) by UnknownPablo Iglesias Foundation

Asturias as a symbol of resistance

The Asturian legend of resistance is the main theme of this mural, which refers to the Revolution of 1934 and various historical figures involved in the workers' uprising in Asturias. The republican defense against the Asturias Offensive helped keep the northern front active until October 1937.

The Revolution of 1934, which took place in October that year, was a workers' uprising in Asturias. It sought to establish a socialist regime after right-wing party members entered the government, bringing with them the risk of a fascist coup.

The fascist hands... (Circa 1937) by UnknownPablo Iglesias Foundation

Indiscriminate bombing

This wall poster depicts how the rebel side used every means at its disposal—by land and by air—to terrorize the civilian population. The Francoist bombings targeted both civilians and cultural heritage.

In November 1936, the Prado Museum (Museo del Prado) was bombed by Franco's troops. Thanks to the Board for the Seizure and Protection of Artistic Treasures (Junta de Incautación y Protección del Tesoro Artístico), and many other volunteers, artistic heritage was protected and kept safe from the bombs.

Tribute to the USSR (1937) by UnknownPablo Iglesias Foundation

Homage to the USSR

The material support that the Soviets provided to the Republic was the most significant offered by any of the governments opposed to fascism. With more than 20 years' experience, the USSR was able to spread its propaganda as wide as possible using posters as a key tool.

Science. Agriculture. Culture. Army (1937) by UnknownPablo Iglesias Foundation

Political propaganda and media control were fundamental to spreading the revolutionary message among the entire population. Idealized images of society filled the propagandist publications, and were used in these wall posters.

Victory!... (Circa 1938) by UnknownPablo Iglesias Foundation

Wartime economy

Many posters and advertising campaigns aimed to increase the engagement and efforts made by those left in the rear guard, who continued to perform the daily duties that enabled the Republic to maintain a wartime economy that was bearable for the population.

Solidarity!... (Circa 1937) by UnknownPablo Iglesias Foundation

A call for solidarity

These posters were also produced to spread the call for solidarity between towns and cities. This poster is dedicated to internationalism, referencing communist leaders from around the world, as well as the International Brigades, and drawing parallels with the Paris Commune.

Solidarity!... (Circa 1937) by UnknownPablo Iglesias Foundation

The Winter Campaign

Another campaign launched by International Red Aid was known as the Winter Campaign. It collected donations of clothing and other items to provide the troops with blankets, shoes, and coats to help them withstand the harsh winter.

Solidarity!... (Circa 1937) by UnknownPablo Iglesias Foundation

Campaign donations came from all over, including from the International Brigades at the front and the camps set up to safeguard children far away from the war zones. It was also possible to make monetary donations, which helped aid organizations buy the equipment they needed.

Solidarity!... (Circa 1937) by UnknownPablo Iglesias Foundation

All the political forces and unions of the Republic came together in a plea for help—a call for solidarity that marked many of the advertising campaigns throughout the years of the civil war.

The two most significant solidarity organizations that were active during the civil war were the communist Spanish Red Aid (Socorro Rojo de España), and the anarchist International Antifascist Solidarity (Solidaridad Internacional Antifascista).

Independence in 1808 (1938) by UnknownPablo Iglesias Foundation

The 1808 Spanish War of Independence

Republican posters constantly drew parallels between the Spanish Civil War and the 1808 Spanish War of Independence (also known as the Peninsular War). They called on people to resist and repel the invaders once again: first France, and now Germany and Italy, which had become allies of the Francoists.

For the victory... (Circa 1938) by UnknownPablo Iglesias Foundation

The fight in the rear guard

The fight in the rearguard was just as significant as the one on the front lines. Those in the rear guard often had to combat so-called fifth columnists (saboteurs and spies within their ranks), as well as black markets that sprung up due to a lack of food. This was in addition to working in the fields and factories, where women took on the main role.

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Art of the Spanish Civil War
Propaganda posters kept in the archives of the Pablo Iglesias Foundation.
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