Together with the yoke, the Flechas (arrows) are one of the symbols of Francoism; the name “flechas” is also used for the members of youths organisations. The journal Garra (1944-1948) was the voice of the Falanges juveniles de Franco and presented articles of propaganda, reports of the physical and cultural activities of the Flechas, hygiene tips, amusing stories, and cartoons. In the issues of October and November 1944, Garra started to publish an anonymous puppet play, El Flecha Juanín y el Dragón (Juanín the Flecha and the Dragon); however, the publication stopped for a year, and the end of the text was not published in the first issue of the new format (October 1945).

The Flecha Juanín is the emblematic character of puppet theatres created by government decree on April 29, 1944, and supervised by youth organisations to spread Franco’s ideology among young audiences. Usually, he fights communists, Freemasons, and democrats with his bludgeon.

Juanín, a member of the Flechas, enters the stage whistling the Frente de la Juventud (Youth Front) hymn “Prietas las filas”. He encounters an old woman who tells him that the princess in her care has been kidnapped by a witch who lives in a castle protected by a giant and a dragon, and that the king’s armies have failed to free her. Juanín decides to save the princess. On his way, he meets two comical characters, Cleofás and Margarito, who try to dissuade him; he then meets the devil Satanas who offers him his help in exchange for his soul, but Juanín refuses.

Juanín faces the giant, who is about to kill him when the devil intervenes and saves him. He offers his help again. This time, Juanín agrees to sign a deal with the devil.

The published text stops here.