The Spanish Civil War, 1936-39

Preston (The Coming of the Spanish Civil War calls the 19361939 war ""the ultimate expression of the attempts by reactionary elements in Spanish politics to crush any reform that might threaten their privileged position.'' In this scholarly account, the author clarifies the ideology of the Spanish rightists, revealing how both the course and outcome of the war were dictated by the reaction of foreign powers and how the internecine struggles within the Republican camp led to a civil war within the Civil War. Perhaps more boldly than any other study, this one reveals the extent of the Catholic Church's support of Franco. Included is a somber analysis of the legacy of the war in Spain, which was governed until Franco's death as if it were a country occupied by a foreign army. ``The training, deployment and structure of the Spanish Army were such as to prepare it for action against the native population rather than an external enemy,'' observes Preston. Illustrations. (September 29)