“The Phantoms of Liberty.” Anarchist Guerillas in the Shadow of Franco’s Regime

Anarchista gerillaharcosok a Franco-rendszer árnyékában

Abstract

The rise to power of General Francisco Franco in Spain was followed after an extremely subversive civil war and bloody reprisals, which led most to perceive his system as oppressive and dictatorial. Correspondingly, various forms of anti-Francoist resistance characterized the regime from the moment of its establishment until its final days. One of the most radical and heroic forms of resistance was guerilla warfare, which unfolded over the years. Among its represent atives were active, persistent, and self-sacrificing participants from the anarchist movement in Spain. They either operated in the under
ground movement or were forced into exile after the civil war. This study attempts to briefly summarize the most important features of the guerilla activities maintained by anarchists, including its chronological and geographical aspects, as well as its tactics and methods. It also examines certain key actors – individuals, groups, and organizations – along with their motivations and the results they achieved.