"Brigada Especial Valentí": the Francoist Justice against Counterespionage that Combated the «Fifth Column»

Abstract

The fight against Francoist «fifth column» in Madrid was a priority for the Government during the Spanish Civil War. This work was made from units or «Brigades» specialized in counterespionage, formed by members of marked left wing ideology. In the present work we analyse the most representative of them, the Valentí Brigade, through the action of those of its members who came from the civil sphere (the immense majority of them) and, above all, the judicial response by the winners at the end of the War. In the summaries against them can be seen that arresting the top officials of this Brigade, clarifying each of their actions and judging the actions of their members was also a priority for the authorities of the national side, as shown by the judicial inquiry and the severity of the sentences to the main perpetrators.

Keywords

• guerra civil española
• franquismo
• «quinta columna»
• contraespionaje
• «brigada valentí»
• servicio de investigación militar (sim)