BACK TO SPAIN

This poster by the artist, Tomas, celebrates the heroic defense of Madrid against fascist armies. In November 1936, General Franco's army conducted a massive frontal assault against Madrid. The attack was carried out with the assistance of thousands of fascist Italian troops and Nazi Germany's infamous Condor Legion air force. The republican government, fearing that Madrid would fall to the fascist onslaught, fled the capital for the city of Valencia.

However, the determined resistance of the Republican Popular Army and the International Brigades turned back the fascist attack. Madrid had been temporarily saved, but General Franco redeployed his forces to the north and began a slow and methodical campaign of destruction that marched from town to town, province to province.