For most of its history, political opposition to the Franco regime was constructed by highly politicized but clearly minority organizations, such as the Socialist Party (PSOE), the Popular Liberation Front (FLP) and the Communist Party; and with only rare exceptions, such as that of Maravall (1978), it is generally agreed that it was the Communist Party which did most to combat the political control of the dictatorship. But even when its combativeness is recognized the Party is still criticized for its ‘intransigent, stalinist, dogmatic and sectarian attitudes’ (Vilar:1976), which hurt rather than helped the cause of socialism, and this ambivalent view of the Party is mirrored in the contrasting images of the communist militant as a ruthless subversive in thrall to a foreign power, and as a modest and prudent hero, who is courageous under torture and who bears no hatred (Hermet:1974). But even where sympathy is lacking it is difficult to deny the fact of the Party's survival in political conditions which proved lethal for many potential allies in the struggle.