The new Cantabrian wars: Italians in Santander. The Civil War on the Northern Front and propaganda cinema

Abstract

This article analyses the keys to the military operations on the Northern Front from 1936 until the conquest of Asturias by the rebellious troops of General Franco, with the fall of Gijón (October 21, 1937); and the importance that propaganda cinema will gain for the  national side as a weapon of war. The study addresses, therefore, the historical context and the essential aspects of a series of documentaries and reports selected from the rebel side —Spanish and Italian—, which highlights their attempt to constitute a triumphant imaginary of what had been their victorious campaign on the Northern Front (after the failure of the capture of Madrid); a competitive desire to demonstrate who had achieved the most honors and achievements on the battlefield (between Italians and nationals) and the configuration of propaganda that denigrated the Republican side, as a result of the capture of Santander.