Blueshirts (Falange)
Encyclopedia
The Blueshirts is the name of the paramilitary
militia
of the Falange
political party
in Spain
. The name refers to the blue uniform worn by members of the militia. The colour blue was chosen for the uniforms because it is the same colour as that of workers' overalls, as the Falange sought to gain support among the Spanish working class
. During the Franco regime the Blueshirts were officially reorganized and officially renamed the Falange Militia in 1940.
Paramilitary
A paramilitary is a force whose function and organization are similar to those of a professional military, but which is not considered part of a state's formal armed forces....
militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
of the Falange
Falange
The Spanish Phalanx of the Assemblies of the National Syndicalist Offensive , known simply as the Falange, is the name assigned to several political movements and parties dating from the 1930s, most particularly the original fascist movement in Spain. The word means phalanx formation in Spanish....
political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. The name refers to the blue uniform worn by members of the militia. The colour blue was chosen for the uniforms because it is the same colour as that of workers' overalls, as the Falange sought to gain support among the Spanish working class
Working class
Working class is a term used in the social sciences and in ordinary conversation to describe those employed in lower tier jobs , often extending to those in unemployment or otherwise possessing below-average incomes...
. During the Franco regime the Blueshirts were officially reorganized and officially renamed the Falange Militia in 1940.