A bit confusing!

Question

I'm having a bit of a problem working out what this Spanish sentence is actually trying to say?

"Es decir, la Guerra no les había permitido todavía organizarse familiarmente."

I've put:

It is said that the war didn't allow them to organise themselves familiarly.

but that doesn't really seem to make sense?

Answer 1

"Namely, those affected by the war has not had a chance to be familiar with organizing." That's what I think is an accurate translation of your sentence.

Answer 2

Oh! I think I understand now. It was about 18 or 19 year olds who had been put into prison after the civil war, and who worked as labourers. Because they were so young, the war had stopped them from finding a wife and starting a family, so when they worked, they didn't get the benefits that those who had families got (because an allowance was paid to the wives and children of working prisoners).

So I think it means: "That is to say, the war didn't allow them to start a family".

The context helps a lot since 'familiar' can mean 'family" or 'familiar". - katydew, May 22, 2013