Guardia de Asalto
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The blue-uniformed Guardia de Asalto (Assault Guard) were the para-military urban police force of Spain, similar to the green uniformed Guardia Civil which patrolled the countryside, during the Spanish Second Republic. Unlike the Guardia Civil, which was preserved from its origin under the monarchy because of a relatively apolitical stance during the formation of the Second Republic, the Guardia de Asalto was formed and organized under the Republic and its loyalties remained with the Republican government until the end of the Spanish Civil War. They were originally created to maintain order in the urban areas and to be used as a loyal force should there be an urban insurrection. Although not as numerous as the Guardia Civil they formed the best Republican troops early in the war and played a key role in suppressing army units attempting to rise up in certain cities. Guardia de Asalto personnel were drawn from ex-Army of Africa and Spanish Legion personnel and were therefore considered better trained and equipped for street fighting than army conscripts.
