Photos Spanish Civil War, (1936–39)

[NebrHogger]

Nationalists using a captured French FT-1 Renault FT light tank

Republican fighters

 

[Nathyl]

Nationalists using a captured French FT-1 tank
View attachment 555213

This photo is questionable.

Judging by the soldiers' uniforms, it does not appear to be a pic from the Spanish Civil War, and even less so from the Nationalist side. It would be interesting to know the source.

At first glance, it looks more like an image taken during the German invasion of Yugoslavia during the Second World War.

In any case, it should be noted that in the Spanish Civil War, both sides had a few Renault FT tanks from the outset, as each zone had a regiment of tanks equipped with them when the uprising spread to the peninsular military units on 18th of July 1936.

The 1st Tank Regiment in Madrid, attached to the 1st Organic Division (in the Republican Zone) and the 2nd Tank Regiment in Zaragoza, attached to the 5th Organic Division (in the Rebel Zone).

Later, the Republicans would receive more FT tanks during the war, mainly from Poland, among other sources.

 

[BravoZulu]

This photo is questionable.

Judging by the soldiers' uniforms, it does not appear to be a pic from the Spanish Civil War, and even less so from the Nationalist side. It would be interesting to know the source.

At first glance, it looks more like an image taken during the German invasion of Yugoslavia during the Second World War.

In any case, it should be noted that in the Spanish Civil War, both sides had a few Renault FT tanks from the outset, as each zone had a regiment of tanks equipped with them when the uprising spread to the peninsular military units on 18th of July 1936.

The 1st Tank Regiment in Madrid, attached to the 1st Organic Division (in the Republican Zone) and the 2nd Tank Regiment in Zaragoza, attached to the 5th Organic Division (in the Rebel Zone).

Later, the Republicans would receive more FT tanks during the war, mainly from Poland, among other sources.

Apparently the image is genuine and it is in Spain, possibly the Madrid front in 1936 however, I can't find anything else about the image but it is in the Polish National Archives with the same caption

 

[Nathyl]

Thanks @BravoZulu.

I have also seen it referenced by authors both in relation to actions in Madrid and in some on the northern front where small combats involving few tanks took place, even though some remain unidentified to this day. But I am still unclear about the authorship, time and place of this pic, which is why I asked.

What makes me most doubtful is that it is always referenced to the Nationalist side, and the clothing of the combatants in the image clashes greatly with what one would expect. And this is despite the fact that the uniforms and equipment of the Spanish Civil War are, to say the least, a complex issue, given the mobilisation of reservists and volunteers, the scarcity of supplies in some areas and the use of supplies and equipment from a wide variety of international sources.