Guardia de Asalto

The blue-uniformed Guardia de Asalto (Assault Guard) were the urban police force of Spain, during the Spanish Second Republic. They were similar to the green uniformed Guardia Civil which patrolled the countryside, but ended up fighting against them during the Spanish Civil War.

Origins

Unlike the Guardia Civil, which was preserved from its origin under the monarchy because of a relatively apolitical stance during the formation of the Second Republic, the "Cuerpo de Seguridad" wasn't well seen by the new Government. The "Ministro de la Gobernación" Miguel Maura reorganized the former police force as peace force in the cities, leaving the countryside to the Guardia Civil. Due to the reorganization were created the "Compañías de Vanguardia" or Vanguard Squads (later called "Sección de guardias de Asalto"). As a part of the reformed Cuerpo de Seguridad they served as control force for masses of people, like the modern anti-riot squads. In 1932, the Cuerpo de Seguridad changed into "Cuerpo de Seguridad y Asalto".

The Civil War

During the Spanish civil war, 70% of its members remained loyal to the Republic. Although not as numerous as the Guardia Civil they formed the best Republican troops early in the war and played a key role in suppressing army units attempting to rise up in certain cities. Guardia de Asalto personnel were drawn from ex-Army of Africa and Spanish Legion personnel and were therefore considered better trained and equipped for street fighting than army conscripts.

ee also

*Guardia Civil (Spain)
*Spanish Civil War
*Spanish Foreign Legion

External links

* [http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/SPassault.htm Guardia de Asalto at Spartacus Educational]
* [http://www.ciere.org/CUADERNOS/Art%2053/La%20guardia%20de%20asalto.htm La guardia de asalto. Policía de la República] , por Alejandro Vargas González, Cuadernos Republicanos, nº 53, Otoño 2003.
* [http://www.cartujo.org/historia1.htm Sección de historia de la página personal del Subinspector Cartujo]