The Battle of Madrid

In October 1936 the popular army would be officially created. This was the first and probably most important step away from the militia units that had dominated the Republican military efforts up to that point. The move was initiated with the support of the remaining officers of the war ministry, many of the political leaders and the Communist Party. For the anarchists, the traditional state military was seen as the antithesis of their beliefs so when they were being folded into the new army, they were at the very least, greatly concerned.