Die Netzwerke des Terrors

Abstract

During the Cold War, several Eastern European intelligence organisations monitored Franco’s Spain and, from 1975 onwards, closely observed the country’s transition to democracy. They committed assassinations, chased those out of their countries who had found asylum there, and tried to gather information about the political and military situation in Spain. This paper analyses the aims and strategies of Communist intelligence organisations vis-à-vis a right-wing dictatorship with Fascist traits, in a country making the fragile transition to democracy. The focus thereby lies on those people who had to live between two dictatorships.During the Cold War, several Eastern European intelligence organisations monitored Franco’s Spain and, from 1975 onwards, closely observed the country’s transition to democracy. They committed assassinations, chased those out of their countries who had found asylum there, and tried to gather information about the political and military situation in Spain. This paper analyses the aims and strategies of Communist intelligence organisations vis-à-vis a right-wing dictatorship with Fascist traits, in a country making the fragile transition to democracy. The focus thereby lies on those people who had to live between two dictatorships.