The Defense of Madrid: Supplies and Fortification
Learn about Madrid under siege after the failed coup in July 1936, through the world of posters.
The Spanish Civil War
On July 17, 1936, a large section of the Spanish army attempted a coup d'état against the Republican government, which had held power since April 1931. The failed coup triggered a civil war that lasted for three years, until April 1, 1939.
They will not pass! Madrid said... (Circa 1938) by Peris AragóPablo Iglesias Foundation
Posters in the civil war
Posters were the main propaganda tool during the Spanish Civil War, in a world in which television did not yet exist, and radios were still not widespread. Posters were a form of popular art and could reach an entire population, expressing feelings and ideas in a way that no other medium could.
Their initial purpose as a means of advertising paved the way for their use by the authorities to disseminate political and military ideas, and to convey their ideals of justice and liberty. Join us as we explore how this was done.
The Defense of Madrid: Supplies
The arrival of Francoist troops at the gates of Madrid led to an increase in the population, as evacuees flocked to the capital.
Workers: if you want,... (Circa 1937) by OliverPablo Iglesias Foundation
The problem of getting supplies through was complicated by the fact that access routes were blocked. Ration books were introduced in 1937, to ensure that food was distributed fairly.
To win the war... (Circa 1937) by PedreroPablo Iglesias Foundation
Getting supplies to Madrid was one of the biggest challenges faced by the Republican authorities. They needed to resolve this issue, which was a key factor in the demoralization of the population.
Workers: if you want,... (Circa 1937) by CantosPablo Iglesias Foundation
Connections to eastern Spain made it possible for all kinds of supplies to reach the city, because, although Madrid was under siege, it wasn't completely surrounded.
The roads leading to the east coast were the only ones to remain open for bringing supplies to Madrid.
The Defense of Madrid: Fortification
The city of Madrid endured the longest siege of the Spanish Civil War, following the first attack by Francoist troops in November 1936.
Form detachments of undermining sappers... (Circa 1936) by PedreroPablo Iglesias Foundation
Madrid needed to equip itself with barbed wire, trenches, and fortified positions to continue to defend itself and hold out for as long as possible. Defensive positions were located in open terrain, as well as inside the city.
Madrid's Gran Vía boulevard, identifiable here by the Carrion, Palacio de Cibeles, and Palacio de la Prensa buildings, was one of the areas worst affected by Francoist bombings, earning it the nickname Shell Avenue (Avenida de los Obuses).
Collaborate in the defence of Madrid... (1936) by DesmarvilPablo Iglesias Foundation
The Fifth Regiment (whose full name was the Quinto Regimiento de Milicias de Madrid) was one of the main military groups created during the Spanish Civil War. The regiment was very well known and many other units modeled themselves on it.
Madrid. An impregnable fortification (Circa 1937) by UnknownPablo Iglesias Foundation
Patriotic independence needs 100,000 volunteers and.... (1938) by FernándezPablo Iglesias Foundation
Gigantism—the idealized, almost titanic depiction of the human figure (in this case, a worker)—was a common feature of many posters, and clearly influenced by Soviet imagery.
Fortification!... (Circa 1937) by UnknownPablo Iglesias Foundation
A chulapa (a historic term used to describe a working-class woman from Madrid) wraps up a soldier tasked with building the city's defenses. Madrid is identifiable by its iconic Puerta de Alcalá gate, the Metropolis building, and a stylized representation of the Telefónica building.
The salvation of Madrid and Spain lies in the Popular Front... (1937) by UnknownPablo Iglesias Foundation
Want to know more?
Read more about the Defense of Madrid in the following articles:
The Defense of Madrid: They Shall Not Pass and Under a Single Command.
