The Trench Press

The armed forces became important publishers of periodicals during the Civil War. This was especially, though not exclusively, true on the Republican side, as numerous military units conceived and produced their own means of expression, overcoming the material and logistical difficulties imposed by the conflict. Some of these frontline newspapers and magazines were even produced entirely in the field using mobile printing presses.

Given the obvious limitations, some frontline publications were published at irregular intervals and issued varied in length, but this did not prevent an unstoppable proliferation of titles—a phenomenon during the war years that many noted, suggesting the need for at least minimal organizational control.

Despite not following pre-established guidelines, these publications shared a common type of content. They were primarily aimed at combatants with the main goal of culturally and politically educating them. They contained reports about members of battalions and brigades, war bulletins, news about cultural activities held in the field, articles by the militiamen of culture or political commissars, who were responsible for maintaining high morale and camaraderie among the troops, as well as guiding the political thinking of the unit. Additionally, they included letters from the soldiers themselves, puzzles, instructions on military maneuvers and weapons handling, and recommendations on hygiene and physical health. They were, therefore, a means to give soldiers a voice and strengthen the sense of unity in the fight for victory, but also to bring life at the front closer to those who were not there.

The trench press often relied on images to illustrate the reality of the front. In addition to photographs, it was common for some artists—usually members of the military unit themselves—to take charge of creating drawings, layouts, and masthead designs, giving the publication its own distinctive and sometimes even recognizable style.

Along with the occasional portrait of an admired leader, most of the compositions featured anonymous soldiers who fought in the war and in whom the intended readers could see themselves reflected. The wide diversity of artists - with varying levels of training, talent, and experience - who contributed to the trench press, makes the artistic expressions in these publications a colorful collection full of pleasant surprises.

IEG