Politics · Spain · 9 hrs ago
Guardia Civil YouTube post on Blue Division remains visible
A Guardia Civil post about the Blue Division is still visible on the force’s YouTube channel.
It shows two officers in a boat and identifies them as members of the division in Lithuania in 1942–43.
The Blue Division was a military unit created under Francisco Franco to fight alongside Nazi Germany in the Second World War.
The political group Sumar asked the government about the post, citing concerns under Spain’s Democratic Memory Law, which requires public bodies to avoid glorifying the Franco dictatorship and associated groups.
The government said the image came from the Guardia Civil’s historical photography centre and that the specific post was no longer available and should not have been published in that form.
Its continued visibility conflicts with that statement.
The account does not say whether the government or Guardia Civil will take further action.
A Guardia Civil YouTube post about the Blue Division remains visible, despite the government saying it was no longer available.
The post shows two smiling Civil Guards in a boat and describes them as members of the Blue Division in Lithuania in 1942–1943.
Sumar questioned the post in Congress, arguing that official content about the unit raised concerns under Spain’s Democratic Memory Law.
The government said the image came from the Guardia Civil Historical Photography Centre and that the post should not have been published as it was.
20minutos reported that the post was still visible on the channel on 11 October 2026.
- Who
- The Guardia Civil, Spain’s Civil Guard. Sumar raised questions about the post, and the government replied.
- What
- A YouTube post showing two agents described as members of the Blue Division remains visible. The government had said it was no longer available and should not have been published as it was.
- When
- The post appeared in mid-June. Sumar submitted its question on 24 June, and the government replied on 23 September.
- Where
- On the Guardia Civil’s YouTube channel.
- Why
- The government said the post was drawn from the Guardia Civil Historical Photography Centre’s material. The source does not state why the post remained visible.
Sumar
The Spanish government
Official post
Sumar
Sumar said the post raised serious concerns under the Democratic Memory Law and could normalize or whitewash a unit linked to Franco’s regime and Nazi Germany.
The Spanish government
The government said the material was published with respect for current law and without intent beyond showing the Civil Guard’s activity, but that this particular content should not have been published as it was.
Availability
Sumar
Sumar asked the government whether it would take measures to ensure official content complied with the law.
The Spanish government
The government said the content was no longer available, while 20minutos reported that it remained visible on YouTube.
ya no se encuentra disponible
no debió haber sido difundido
plantea serias dudas desde el punto de vista del cumplimiento de la Ley de Memoria Democrática
Dos guardias civiles de la División Azul ante las ruinas del castillo de Trakai, en Lituania, durante 1942-1943
A photo captioned as showing two Civil Guards of the Blue Division in Lithuania in 1942–1943 appeared on the Guardia Civil’s YouTube channel.
Sumar registered a written parliamentary question about the post.
The government told Sumar that the post was no longer available and should not have been published as it was.
20minutos reported that the post was still visible on the YouTube channel.
- Post location
- Guardia Civil YouTube channel
- Photo caption period
- 1942–1943
- Parliamentary question
- Registered by Sumar on 24 June
- Government reply
- 23 September
- Historical Photography Centre
- Created in March 2023
- Reported status
- Still visible on 11 October 2026
Sources
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