The Condor Legion and Beyond: The Influence of the German Secret Field Police in the Spanish Civil War

This article examines the role of the German Secret Field Police (GFP) during the Spanish Civil War. Deployed prior to the arrival of the Condor Legion, the GFP's primary mission was to protect German military forces and Germany itself from any potential leaks of information that could jeopardise its strategic interests. Throughout the course of the war, the GFP underwent significant restructuring and initiated a process of collaboration with Spanish units. This article provides an account of the GFP's structural evolution during the war in Spain, assesses its operational performance, and analyses the results of police collaboration between Spain and Germany.