COMMUNIST PREPARATIONS FOR A SPRING CAMPAIGN IN SPAIN

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00457R002200680004-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: November 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 22, 1999
• Sequence Number: 4
• Publication Date: December 6, 1948
• Content Type: REPORT

FORM NO. 51-4A
SEPT. 1848
Approved For Release 1999/09 IA- 2-00 5 X20022 0680004-3 _ _
INFORMATION REPORT CD NO.
COUNTRY Si?pin
SUBJECT Communist Preparations for a Spring Campaign
in Spain
PLACE
ACQUIRED
DATE OF INFO. 6 December 1948
25X1A2g
DATE DISTR. 19 Tan 1949
NO. OF PAGa'
NO. OF ENCL.
(LISTED BELOW)
SUPPLEMENT TO
1. Active preparation for a Communist Party Spring campaign in Spain and
consideration of plans to insure its success had been started by 6
December 1948. 25X1X6
the difficulty in obtaining armaments was the primary preoccupation of
i,he Communists. They are counting upon a large deposit of armaments
in Italy and have been stu4ying possible ways of parachuting these
supplies into Spain. By early December, however, the necessary co.oyeration
for carrying out such a.n Aperalion had not yet been obtained. In recent
months, the Communists .aim to have succeeded in sending into Spain
large quantities of heavy armament, especially machine guns, from the
Skoda factories of Czechoslovakia.
25X1X6 2.
the Communists are Planning to divide Spain into the
following four zones for the purpose of the Spring campaigns Galicia,
Asturias, Leon and-Extremadura; the Ebro Basin. Northern Spain, the
Levante and Catalonia; Central Spain; Southern Spain. In addition, the
Communists, source learned, are creating armed groups in Barcelona,
Madrid, Malaga and Valencia, to cooperate with the guerrilla forces in
creating disturbances within the cities.
Preparations for the Siring campaign are most advanced in the Levante-
Catalonia Zone as a result of the efforts of Communist guerrilla leader
Juan Cesar BLAZQITEZ. the Communists are expected 25X1X6
to devote their attention from now on to the organization of the Array
of Galicia.
4. By February 1949, the Communists hope to have 500 well-trained officers
from training. schools which have been operating in certain Eastern
European countries. The Communists, source states, are planning to send
certain elemen,t~ from France into Spain. 25X1X6
all Communist fhiefs and officers who are still in France will have
been sent into Stain,by the summer of 1949, including Colonel Enrique
LISTER, who would be.in charge of the Southern Zone.
 CENTRAL IN :14IGENCE AGENCY
25X1A2g
v
Source has learned that some members of -the Political Bureau of the
Spanish Communist Party advocated the use of ?personal assaults -orior
to or concurrently with the Spring campaign. Dolores IBARRii.7 ("La
Pasionaria") is re-oorted to be opposed to this procedure because of the
severe reprisals which would result f'or e..ch Falange 'personality
involved.
6. In early December, consideration was being given to a short trip into
Spain by Dolores IBARRURI and another member of the Political Bureau.
25X1A6a J Commene:_They would visit guerrilla units, probably in the
Levant, area, in an effort to raise the morale and combat spirit of
these units prior to the Spring camfpaign. Source speculated that
Francisco AN'I'ON, might be the other member selected.)
N GE in Class. D
Approved For Release 1999
fl DECL r?E7
DDA Florio , 77
Auth: DDA. REG. 77L1'76
57R0022#O$f3A - By: