Trench propagandists. Deserters from the republican side as agents of socialisation of the insurgent combatants (1936-1939)

  • Francisco J. Leira-Castiñeira Florida Universitària
Keywords: Civil war, combatants, deserters, rebels, republicansç

Abstract

This article offers an interpretation focused on the impact of the Republican deserters on the socialization of the insurgent combatants and the subsequent acceptance of Franco’s dictatorship. Unlike the Nation-States, not all deserters were sent to prison or concentration camps; those without blood crimes were sent to the front. The contact between the forced recruits of the insurgent side and the escapees may have influenced their perception of the conflict, as they discovered that the realities on both sides of the trenches did not differ significantly. Through the theory of «opinion leaders», deserters, in a seemingly «banal» manner, were able to impact the heterogeneous insurgent troops with their experiences. This study uses the documentation obtained from the insurgent information service, specifically the interrogations, considering the limitations of this source. The text attempts to provide another view of the consolidation of the dictatorship.

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Published
2024-07-01
How to Cite
Leira-Castiñeira F. J. . (2024). Trench propagandists. Deserters from the republican side as agents of socialisation of the insurgent combatants (1936-1939). Historia y Política, 51, 31-57. https://doi.org/10.18042/hp.51.02