''SP'' was an illustrated news and political magazine which was published in Spain from 1957 to 1972. The title was an abbreviation of the phrase ''Su Periódico'' (). It is known for its support for Francoist rule.

History and profile

''SP'' was launched in 1957 by a group of Spanish journalists, including Rodrigo Royo and Jaime Menéndez. Its first issue appeared on 12 May that year. The magazine came out weekly, and its editor-in-chief and director was Rodrigo Royo. In September 1967 Luis Ángel de la Viuda replaced Royo as the editor-in-chief of ''SP'' and held the post until November 1968. The headquarters of the magazine was in Madrid, but it also had publishing offices in Barcelona. Due to its popularity a sister publication, ''Daily SP'', was started in 1967 which ceased publication in 1969 due to lower popularity. ''SP'' sold 21,000 copies a week in the years 1966, 1967 and 1969. Its 1968 circulation was 24,000 copies. In 1961 during the

trial of Adolf Eichmann The Eichmann trial was the 1961 trial of major Holocaust perpetrator Adolf Eichmann who was captured in Argentina by Israeli agents and brought to Israel to stand trial. Eichmann was a senior Nazi party member and served at the rank of ''Oberst ...

, a Nazi official who escaped to Argentine where he was captured, ''SP'' published an article in which the

holocaust The Holocaust (), known in Hebrew language, Hebrew as the (), was the genocide of History of the Jews in Europe, European Jews during World War II. From 1941 to 1945, Nazi Germany and Collaboration with Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy ...

was denied. The article claimed that not Nazis but the Russians established the

concentration camps A concentration camp is a prison or other facility used for the internment of political prisoners or politically targeted demographics, such as members of national or ethnic minority groups, on the grounds of national security, or for exploit ...

for

Jews in Germany The history of the Jews in Germany goes back at least to the year 321 CE, and continued through the Early Middle Ages (5th to 10th centuries CE) and High Middle Ages (c. 1000–1299 CE) when Jewish immigrants founded the Ashkenazi Jewish commu ...

. The editor-in-chief, Rodrigo Royo, also published an editorial denying the existence of the

gas chambers A gas chamber is an apparatus for killing humans or animals with gas, consisting of a sealed chamber into which a poisonous or asphyxiant gas is introduced. Poisonous agents used include hydrogen cyanide and carbon monoxide. History Gener ...

stating that these were just the army laboratories established to test the

gas masks A gas mask is a piece of personal protective equipment used to protect the wearer from inhaling airborne pollutants and toxic gases. The mask forms a sealed cover over the nose and mouth, but may also cover the eyes and other vulnerable soft ...

of the soldiers. In January 1964 ''SP'' published a controversial article about the

assassination Assassination is the willful killing, by a sudden, secret, or planned attack, of a personespecially if prominent or important. It may be prompted by political, ideological, religious, financial, or military motives. Assassinations are orde ...

of the American President

John F. Kennedy John Fitzgerald Kennedy (May 29, 1917 – November 22, 1963), also known as JFK, was the 35th president of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963. He was the first Roman Catholic and youngest person elected p ...

arguing that the murderers were the

Dallas police The Dallas Police Department, established in 1881, is the principal law enforcement agency serving the city of Dallas, Texas. Organization The department is headed by a chief of police who is appointed by the city manager who, in turn, is hir ...

. A CIA document created upon this article on 14 May 1964 stated that the magazine was a Falange supporter and that it might have links with the Italian far right publication ''Secolo XX''. In the same document it was also speculated that this article was part of the Franco government's attempts to rebuild

diplomatic relations Diplomacy is the communication by representatives of state, intergovernmental, or non-governmental institutions intended to influence events in the international system.Ronald Peter Barston, ''Modern Diplomacy'', Pearson Education, 2006, p. ...

with Mexico. ''SP'' folded in 1972.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:SP 1957 establishments in Spain 1972 disestablishments in Spain Defunct political magazines published in Spain Defunct Spanish-language magazines Fascist magazines Holocaust denial in Spain Magazines established in 1957 Magazines disestablished in 1972 Magazines published in Madrid Magazines published in Barcelona News magazines published in Spain Propaganda newspapers and magazines Weekly magazines published in Spain Weekly news magazines