In 1936 there were two
internal paramilitary police forces in Spain:
the Civil Guard and the Assault Guard.
The Civil Guard, an elite paramilitary police force, had 69,000 men
and officers. It is estimated that 42,000 joined the Nationalists
and 27,000 remained with the Popular Front
government.
The Civil Guard remained
loyal in Barcelona and played an important
role in the suppression of the Nationalist uprising. However, in others
areas, such as Badajoz,
they supported the Nationalist
Army. The Civil
Guard were always treated with suspicion by the left-wing groups fighting
for the Republican
Army.
These views were confirmed when the Civil Guard were used to suppress
the Anarcho-Syndicalists (CNT), Anarchists,
and the Worker's Party (POUM) in Barcelona
in May 1937.
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