The first measures around civil protection in
Spain were taken in 1941 when the Passive Defence and Territory Headquarters was created to protect the population and the resources and wealth of the country. This Headquarters depended directly on the
Office of the Prime Minister and it was headed by a
general officer of the
Army. However, the true origin of this body is found almost two decades later, in May 1960. This year the Headquarters was reformed and the Directorate-General for Civil Protection was created with the main objective of creating an organ with the same denomination that was used in the international scope - that of civil defense. Its functions, prime-ministerial dependence and military character remained intact. With this reform, offices began to be created in each province, chaired by civil governors. On these depended in turn the local offices chaired by the town and city mayors. In 1967, the directorate-general was relegated to the rank of sub-directorate-general and integrated into the
Directorate-General of the Civil Guard, which since 1943 had some units for these purpose. In this way, civil protection functions were assigned to the
Ministry of the Interior. A 1968 Decree structured and granted powers to the sub-directorate, based on those already existing of the directorate-general. In addition, it developed and regulated its several units, maintained the service to its full extent, guaranteed the dissemination of the media, reinforced cooperation with the
Civil Guard and respected the
local and
provincial character traditionally recognized for the fight against emergencies. Since 1976, the sub-directorate general became dependent on the Directorate-General for Internal Policy. Already in 1980, during the term of Minister
Juan José Rosón, the civil protection system was strengthened with the creation of a collective body to coordinate the action of the rest of
departments,
administrations and organizations, both public and private. This body was the National Civil Protection Committee. Likewise, the Directorate-General for Civil Protection was recovered and structured through a General Secretariat and the information, operational coordination and mobilization services. Civil governors assumed the coordination and provincial direction of civil protection. On September 14, 1981, the civil protection badge was created. In July 1982, a new structure was approved based on two sub-directorates-general: one of Studies and Organization for conducting studies, for training and improvement of professional and volunteer staff, as well as assuming the secretariat of the National Committee and preparing the legislation; and a sub-directorate-general of Operations for operational intervention and drills. In January 1985, the first Civil Protection Act was passed. In 1999 a representative of the Nuclear Safety Council was integrated in the National Civil Protection Committee. , Andalusia. It was in 2004 when the term “Emergencies” was added to the name of the directorate-general. Since April 2026, the directorate-general is part of the General Secretariat for Civil Protection and Emergencies, a new body established to boost the government policy on emergencies. == List of directors-general ==