The Spanish anarchist guerrilla through the example of Francisco Sabaté ('El Quico') (original) (raw)

2023, Kajos Luca Fanni et al. (eds.): 11th Interdisciplinary Doctoral Conference 2022 : Conference Book

The dictatorial rule of General Francisco Franco, who came to power in consequence of his victory in the Spanish Civil War, was met with widespread opposition from within Spain and in the exiled communities from the moment of its birth. Among the opponents of the regime, the anarchists were a dominant force, and their activities were very diverse. These included peaceful and non-violent, although mostly illegal activities from clandestine reorganization of the movement to prisoner aid and the distribution of propaganda publications. But we can also speak about various forms of active armed resistance that complemented and deepened the mentioned methods, ranging from expropriations to political assassinations and guerrilla activities in urban and rural areas. Francisco Sabaté Llopart (a.k.a. ’El Quico’) was probably the most notorious figure of the Spanish anarchist guerrillas, who, alone or with his comrades, carried out a number of courageous and successful actions against the institutions, representatives and supporters of the dictatorship. He remained a constant threat to Franco’s Spain until his death in 1960, long after the guerrilla movement had been wiped out. Therefore his death can be seen as a symbolic end to the guerrilla war in Spain. Results My research examined the life of Francisco Sabaté and its turning points, examining the material circumstances and ideological driving forces behind his activities. Through an insight into his personality and actions, I have come closer to understanding both the armed anarchist resistance during the Franco era and the theoretical and tactical debates within the Spanish Libertarian Movement (MLE), both at homeland and in exile, which generated a number of tensions. In my view, Sabaté’s activity is as well-suited to modelling guerrilla methods as it is for tracing the dictatorship’s reactions to them, and thus even to comparing them with guerrilla movements in other regions of the period. Conclusions Francisco Sabaté played an important role in the anarchist resistance against Franco’s regime, and can be considered the soul of the armed guerrilla struggle. Because of the length of time he was active and the number of actions he carried out, he is well-suited to be analysed as a prototype of the Spanish anarchist guerrilla and, through his actions, to provide a picture of the guerrilla movement as a whole. Sabaté is also relevant as an influence on armed guerrilla fighters in other countries.