The Malaga front through the press destined for the combatants

Summary-account of her conference.

Mirta Núñez Díaz-Balart (UCM)

The reality of a front such as that of the South, notably isolated from the rest of republican Spain, presents militia characteristics that had disappeared in other fronts when Malaga was lost in February 1937.

In the militia period it was known how to give a popular response to the military coup but often in a more disorganised way than in the case of other republican fronts. Particular aspects stand out such as the links between the provinces of Andalusia and, however, the distance of news regarding the other fronts. On the southern front there is a continuity of the ideological combat against the rebels. Thus, El Soldado Rojo, weekly paper of the Victoria No. 8 Infantry Regiment of Malaga, states: “The redemptive campaign of the rebels, those who call themselves “crusaders” organise pilgrimages to Mecca”[1]

The loss of Malaga will be the reason for its reappearance in the Republican press. These lines summarise the demands of the Republican zone marking the line of what we find in other publications:

“(…) we do not wish to mention the reasons for the loss of beautiful Malaga, but do let us speak of the magnificent and spontaneous reaction that has occurred at the heart of the working class.  Everyone, without exception, has risen asking for unity at the rearguard, the sole command, People’s Army, and the compulsory general mobilisation (…)”[2]

The unarguable commotion its loss caused across the entire republican front served as a warning bell regarding what had occurred and determined a search for responsibilities and lessons in the republican government in the war strategy from this point forward.

Rafa Morales

Relator of the Mirta Nuñez conference

[1] El Soldado Rojo, weekly paper of the Victoria No. 8 Infantry Regiment of Malaga, no. 10, 31-1-1937, p. 254, volume I

[2] Obreros y Soldados, third Infantry Regiment, 1st division of the People’s Army. Lenin Barracks, Barcelona, no. 3, 26 February 1937, p.1