Battle for Spain
What would have happened if Franco's Nationalist forces had lost the Spanish Civil War and the Republicans had won?
Counterfactual history questions are both fascinating and infuriating. Franco's success in 1939 -- at a cost of some 200,000 lives -- plunged Spain into a military dictatorship that lasted, essentially, until he died in 1975. Only then could democracy begin to emerge again in Spain. If the Republican forces had defeated Franco, would Spain have been plunged into a Communist satelite dictatorship lasting even longer, until the collapse of the Soviet Union? I've been pondering that question today, having spent part of my morning interviewing the military historian Antony Beevor about his new book, .
The book is a revamp of Beevor's 1982 history of the war, with new insights provided by his explorations in the recently opened Russian archives -- from which we learn a great deal more about, for example, Stalin's penchant for political spin in the period leading up to the war. You can hear the interview with Beevor on this week's Sunday Sequence. In addition to that counterfactual historical question, I explore with him the extent to which the Spanish civil war can be seen as a curtain-raiser to the global conflict that immediately followed it, the myths and misperceptions that still surround Spain's civil war, and resonances of the war in contemporary Spanish politics.
Many tourists from Britan and Ireland will spend part of this summer in Spain (indeed, something like one in five of Ireland's adult population apparently owns a second home in Spain). Isn't it remarkable, and deeply tragic, that those places we visit for the sunshine and the sangria were only seventy years ago flowing with a generation of Spanish blood?
Comments
While Born in the USA, I have Latin Blood [Cuba and before that Spain]. Before anyone brings up Right and Left, I am an Independent [Libertarian].
Having said that, We will not deny that Franco lasted almost 40 years in Spain and that some injustices were committed.
What about the atrocities committed by the Republicans in the name of Liberty. Even those who supported the Republicans did not command a clean slate. Many Republicans Killed People who were in disagreement with them. Properties and Houses were destroyed. Even those in the Brigades killed People for their beliefs. Stalin evacuated many children from Spain when he saw his cause losing. Stalin also robbed Spain of $660,000,000 in Gold before 1939.
I consider hypocritical that Mexico and Venezuela condemned Franco in his last years yet did not pay attention to the needs of their people. The USA with Roosevelt had supported the Republicans yet Republicans and Democrats are prolific violators of Human Rights. Holland condemned Franco yet now legalize a Paedophile Party and have shown intolerance towards anyone who does not "look Dutch" [the same as In USA].
Europe and North America condemned Franco but turned the other way while the Khmer Rouge slaughtered their own people.
Another fact, many of the Spanish Republicans of the 1930's have children, grandchildren, and even great grandchildren who are now Bush Republicans of the 21st Century, Fidelistas of Cuba [since the 1950's], Chavistas of Venezuela [since 1999] , and Sandinistas of Nicaragua [since 1979]. These even do business deals with each other [of course they feed off each other] Their conducts show what would have happened in Spain if Franco would have lost.
In closing because I do not think this would be published, When I was in my ancestral homeland of Spain in 1973, I felt more better and at home than in the jungle which was Ohio and USA at that time frame. [The same includes Europe]. Before someone says I am up to something, I talk from experience and from what I have read in my history book: "Spain: The Vital Years".
Libertas
PS: I mailed you my book "CUTTING HEALTH CARE: THE PROS AND CONS"
When I mentioned Europe, I was saying that in 1973, I felt more at home in Europe [including Spain] than in Ohio and USA [exception was Florida and areas of the South].
Libertas.
I got a bit bogged down with the book - only got to page 30 so far. The material is so dense. I thought Beevor's books on Berlin and Stalingrad were fabulous - I'm not sure if they were more accessible, or whether it's just they were about a more familiar history. I don't know anything about the Spanish Civil War, and it's hard to make sense of such a detailed account without that background knowledge.
On the decision to have reparations paid to victims of Spain's Civil War, I think Russia and the Republicans should also pay reparations to their victims. All of the Communists, Republicans, and Democrats should pay reparations for dameges incurred during the Cold War. I also think Republicans and Democrats should pay reparations to Nativa American, Asian-Americans and African-Americans for human rights violations.
"If the Republican forces had defeated Franco, would Spain have been plunged into a Communist satelite dictatorship lasting even longer, until the collapse of the Soviet Union?"
Most probably Nazi Germany would have invaded at some point, likely after the fall of France or the invasion of Russia.