Spanish Civil War / Fascism / International Brigades
Their Role in Europe’s Civil War
/ SYNOPSIS
The Spanish Civil War was not an isolated event - it both impacted on and reflected the divisive politics of thirties Europe. Ninety thousand foreign volunteers fought for General Franco in the Spanish Civil War – three times the number who joined the International Brigades in support of the Republican Government. British adventurers and aristocrats, Peruvian poets, Finnish film stars, devote Irish Catholics, White Russians, Romanian fascists, French monarchists and Moroccan nationalists were drawn to Spain to fight for a extraordinary variety of different causes. More often than not they were driven by a passion for politics in their own country as opposed to the fate of the Spanish people. Fighting alongside them were 15,000 German and 70,000 Italian soldiers.
Once the war was won the victorious insurgents could not admit that they had needed foreigners to win their patriotic crusade, and left them out of the history books. In the years that followed the Second World War, the volunteers chose to stay silent as they did not want to admit that they had fought for a movement that had been supported by Hitler’s Third Reich.
Christopher Othen gives a crucial insight into a divided and confused continent on the brink of world war.
Once the war was won the victorious insurgents could not admit that they had needed foreigners to win their patriotic crusade, and left them out of the history books. In the years that followed the Second World War, the volunteers chose to stay silent as they did not want to admit that they had fought for a movement that had been supported by Hitler’s Third Reich.
Christopher Othen gives a crucial insight into a divided and confused continent on the brink of world war.
/ CHARITY
Part of the proceeds of the sales of Franco’s International Brigades go to the Peace Research and Education Trust who, in association with the Peace Pledge Union, produce challenging resources for schools and the wider public. The Peace Pledge Union believes that war and violent conflict are neither necessary nor inevitable. Christopher Othen nominated this charity because he believes that many of the young men who volunteered for the Nationalists were motivated at least in part by the idea that war was a glamorous adventure and that the only way to achieve their aims was to kill for them on the battlefield.
/ PRESS REVIEWS
"Christopher Othen provides an accessible introduction into this neglected aspect of the Spanish Civil War" Irish Times
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Catalogue Details
Publication : November 25, 2008
Large Paperback Price £12.99
ISBN 978-09558302-6-6
216 x 138mm 384pp 16 plates and maps
Rights: World (excluding Spain)
-------------------------------------
Catalogue Details
Publication : November 25, 2008
Large Paperback Price £12.99
ISBN 978-09558302-6-6
216 x 138mm 384pp 16 plates and maps
Rights: World (excluding Spain)
Reportage Press is a new publishing house specialising in books on foreign affairs or set in foreign countries; non-fiction, fiction, essays, travel books, old travel memoirs, or just books written from a stranger’s view.
Daniela Norris and Shireen Anabtawi in discussion - October 12th, London Jewish Cultural Centre
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