If you dig into Spanish history, you will find a rollercoaster of tyranny and oppression. Initially by the church, then successive governments, multiple republics and the dismally by General Franco, in a dictatorship. It is estimated that a quarter of a million Spaniards were put against the wall, and shot. Before he died, Franco was asked if he forgives his enemies. No, he replied, I don’t have any, I had them all shot.
This part of history, is not talked about, especially in Spain. There has been on monument, erected to the three hundred people murdered at Monte de La Pedraja, for their political belief.
With this in mind, when I saw Anthony Beevor’s book, called “The battle for Spain, the Spanish Civil War 1936-1939, in a book swap, I jumped at the chance.
Anthony Beevor is an excellent historical writer, who I saw speak on his Berlin book, some years before.
Not wishing to teach, it is illuminating to read what went on, in the places I walk through, less than one hundred years ago.
The threat of Communism, and a strong left wing that was ultimately divided, made way for the weak right wing to take power. Franco was aided by both Hitler and Mussolini. He can also claim the first airlift of soldiers too.
He still has his place as an evil dictator, who held power till his death in 1975, a year after I was born. Makes you think?
No comments:
Post a Comment