Social attitudes of the combatants

The photograph shows a group of Francoist soldiers laughing, something that contrasts with the traditional perception of soldiers as the fierce defenders of the ideals of their respective sides. The reality of recruitment during the Civil War created more and more varied responses that even included passive and active opposition.

Active opposition came from those who openly resisted the coup and then the rebels’ forced recruitment. The same thing happened on the Republican side following the creation of the Popular Army. There was also non-violent opposition by men who fled to the hills or found places to hide. The “evaders”, as they were called, could not remain hidden long because of the danger this represented for their families as well as for themselves. Many men on both sides deserted while at the front.

To illustrate social diversity and highlight that there were not two Spains condemned to fight each other, we can look at the case of an individual born in the province of Lugo. At the time of the coup, he was working in the mines in Fabero (León). He was a militant in the CNT, but when a militia to resist the coup taking place in the provincial capital, this Galician anarchist decided to flee and walk the many kilometres back home. When he arrived, he was called up with his class and decided to escape because he did not want to fight for either side. In the end, he was captured and sent to a battalion coming from Africa. (These were the most dangerous because they were shock troops.) It is not known if he displayed any dissidence.

For his part, the Galician nationalist Cea Zanetti enlisted and then waited for an opportunity desert and fight with the Republicans, since, as he said in an interview in 2006, they were the ones who represented him.

Men deserted from the Republican army throughout the war for three main reasons: political affinity, to sabe their lives because they saw that the Republicans were losing the war, and because as the rebels took more territory, the families of many Republican soldiers were no won the other side of the lines. Much the same happened with conscription. Many hid to avoid being sent to the front, because of their political beliefs, because they were pacifists, or out of fear. 

In both armies, there were men joined to avoid political persecution and others because they saw no other alternative. A diversity of motivations and complex social dynamics were in play.

FLC