El Servicio de Información y Policía Militar en la Guerra Civil española: el caso del ejército del Levante

This research investigates the formation, structure, and operations of the Servicio de Información y Policía Militar (SIPM) within the context of the Spanish Civil War, with a specific focus on the Army of the Levant. The study examines the transition from initial improvisation to the establishment of a systematic organization, emphasizing its critical role in espionage, counterespionage, and public order during the Final Offensive and the immediate postwar period. Furthermore, it traces the evolution of intelligence services in eastern Spain from 1936 to their consolidation within the Army of the Levant by late 1938.

The analysis delves into the organizational framework of the SIPM, the integration of fifth-column agent networks, and the strategic utilization of limited resources to address challenges in the conquest of the Valencian region. Particular attention is given to the SIPM's role in political repression and population control following the occupation of Valencia, where the Valencia Special Detachment was established. This investigation is grounded in previously unpublished primary sources of significant value housed in the Archivo General Militar de Ávila. Lastly, the study explores the postwar reorganization of intelligence services, highlighting their transformation into the nascent structures of the Francoist regime.