Hitler and Spain

In this chilling study, the first comprehensive work in English on Germany's role in the Spanish Civil War, Whealey demonstrates how Hitler exploited that conflict to promote the slogan ``anti-communism'' and, by so doing, solidify his relations with international corporate and church leaders. By exploding a local struggle into a European diplomatic contest, Hitler weakened ties among the Allies and diverted attention from his plans for territorial expansion. The arms and supplies he provided Franco served as a bargaining tool with the Japanese, who believed he was taking an active military stand against communism, contends the author. Meanwhile, Hitler left to Franco the main burden of crushing the Popular Front, and he slyly encouraged Mussolini to become the prime interventionist. In exchange for desperately needed arms, Franco gave the Nazi war machine iron ore, wool and hides. Whealey, who teaches at Ohio University, draws on German, Spanish and Italian sources to buttress his shrewd assessment that ``Franco and Hitler both won the Spanish Civil War.'' (Feb.)