Anderson, Peter. The Francoist Military Trials : Terror and Complicity (2009)

The Francoist Military Trials delves into the brutal repression carried out by the Franco regime in Spain from 1936 to 1945, focusing on the widespread complicity of local Francoists in the persecution of Republicans. While historians have acknowledged the scale of these trials, they have often overlooked the extensive local involvement in the killings and incarcerations. This book explores how Francoists in various communities accused and prosecuted their neighbors in military courts, relying on insubstantial and hostile testimonies to secure convictions and harsh sentences, including death and long prison terms.

The book is significant because it challenges the notion that the Franco regime imposed a police state upon a passive society. Instead, it reveals how local officials and regime supporters actively participated in and sustained the repressive system, engaging in continued harassment of Republicans even after their release from prison. By documenting this civilian complicity, The Francoist Military Trials provides a deeper understanding of the dynamics of repression in Francoist Spain, offering a crucial perspective on how authoritarian regimes can mobilize societal support to target and oppress segments of their own population.

Author of this entry: Meritxell Espona Vinyeta.

Anderson, Peter. 2009. The Francoist Military Trials : Terror and Complicity,1939-1945. Oxford: Taylor & Francis Group.