Spanish Youth Group Uniforms

Figure 1.--These Spanish Cubs were photographed in 1997. Note that one boy wears a traditional Cub cap.

The principal Spanish youth group is the Scouts. At this time we only know of one other Spanish youth group--the Fascist youth organization under the Franco regime. There may have been a Pioneer group during the Civil War era, but we have no details at this time. We know, however, relatively little about this group or the Scout movement during the Fascist era. With the fall of Fascism this group disappeared and currently the Scouts are the only important Spanish youth group.

Spanish Scouts

The principal Spanish youth group is the Scouts. We have little historical information about scouting in Spain. We do not know, for example, when Spanish Scouting was founded. Presumably the Scouts were prohibited by Franco after the defeat of the Republic in favor of the Falange youth group. With the fall of Fascism, the Falange youth group disappeared and currently the Scouts are the only important Spanish youth group. As in many European countries, there is no one single Spanish Scout asociation. The Catalans have, for example, a separate association. There is also a separate association for Valencia. Hopefully Spanish readers will provide us some details about Spanisg Scouting.

Nationalist Groups

At this time we only know of one other Spanish youth group--the Fascist youth organization under the Franco regime. We know, however, relatively little about this group or the Scout movement during the Fascist era. The 20th Century has seen the rise of two basic types of boys uniformed youth groups. One group of organizations had many different focuses, but an international orientation. The best example is of course the Boy Scouts. Another is the Boys Brigade. These groups have units in many different countries. Another group of organizations rejected internationalism and instead promoted nationist sentiments. Some like the Hitler Youth and Italian Fascist groups were strongly supported by Governments and competing youth groups, like the Scouts were outlawed. In Spain Generalisimo Francisco Franco after defeating Republican, antil clearical forces, set up a totalitarian state and created the Falange political party to goven the state. The Falange created its own uniformed youth group.

Pioneers

There may have been a Pioneer group during the Civil War era, but we have no details at this time.