At the onset of the Spanish Civil War there were 18,000 Assault Guards . About 12,000 stayed loyal to the Republican government , while another 5,000 joined the rebel faction . Many of its units fought against the Franco supporting armies and their allies . Their siding with the former Spanish Republic 's government brought about the disbandment of the corps at the end of the Civil War . The members of the '' Guardia de Asalto '' who had survived the combats and the ensuing Francoist purges were made part of the Policía Armada , the corps that replaced it
Francoist purges
White Terror (Spain)
Guardia de Asalto