Introduction

Visual Index (Entire Poster Collection)

Catalogue

Chronology of the War

Acknowledgements

Lists of References

Afterword: Herbert R. Southworth Collection

Diada Internacional de la Dona Antifeixista. Catalans! assistiu al gran acte que es celebrara a la Plaça Monumental el diumenge 7 de març, a les deu del matí (punctualitat militar), sota la presidência de Lluis Companys. & bandes militars actuaran conjuntament - 3 orfeons

[International Day of the Anti-Fascist Woman. Catalans! Come to the ceremony to be held at the Plaza Monumental, Sunday, March 7th, at 10 a.m. (with military punctuality), President Lluis Companys, presiding. Seven military bands will perform with three Catalan choral groups! Come to the big celebration...]. . UGT, SDP Poster, 3 colors; 100 x 69 cm.

Like poster 72, this poster is essentially an advertisement for the International Day of Anti-fascist Women slated to occur on March 7, 1937. While little is known about this specific event, it may have been hosted or organized by the Agrupación de Mujeres Antifascistas or AMA (Union of Antifascist Women). The AMA was a political organization founded by Communist International in Spain in 1934. Although it was outlawed in 1934 and was forced to change its name to Pro Infancia Obrera, the AMA resumed its former name in 1936 with the victory of the Popular Front at the polls. Since many women's political groups pursued agendas consistent with democratic or liberal principles, anti-fascism, understood as the antithesis of democracy and liberty, became a rallying point for many women's political groups such that they often include the term "anti-fascist" in their name. According to historian Mary Nash, "the immediate purpose of the AMA was to integrate Spanish Women to the Antifascist cause and to promote the predominance of the Spanish Communist Party (PCE) among women."

The image on the poster is that of Lluis Companys (1883-1940). Companys was born in El Torro's in the province of Leida. He studied law in Barcelona and, afterwards, often acted on the behalf persecuted syndicalists. From this work, he developed links with the Confederación Nacional del Trabajo (CNT). In 1931, he was elected as a deputy to the Spanish Cortes at which he supported the Statute of Catalan Autonomy. In fact, many of the events in Company's political career are set against the backdrop of conflicts between Cataluña and the centralized government in Madrid regarding the level of autonomy to be granted to the region of Cataluña. On January 1, 1934, Companys was elected President of the Generalitat de Cataluña after his predecessor, Francesc Macià died in office in 1933. In October 1934, Companys was jailed and sentenced to thirty years in prison for his role in supporting the Statute of the Catalan State, which the government in Madrid saw as a direct challenge to its power. With the success of the Popular Front at the polls in February 1936 and the election of Companys to the office of President of the Generalitat, he was amnestied and freed from prison. Companys remained President of the Generalitat for the duration of the war until Barcelona fell to Franco's troops in January 26, 1939. After the war, Companys fled to France. After France was occupied by the Third Reich during World War II, Companys was arrested by the Gestapo and turned over to Franco's police. After being court-martialed on October 14, 1940, he killed by a firing squad.

The poster was produced by the CNT and the Sindicat de Dibuxants Professionals (SDP). The interconnection of the acronyms in the logo on the poster indicates a close connection between the two groups. The artist of the poster is unknown.