A Short History of the Spanish Civil War: Revised Edition (Short Histories)

In this revised edition of __A Short History of the Spanish Civil__ War, Julián Casanova tells the gripping story of the Spanish Civil War. Written in elegant and accessible prose, the book charts the most significant events and battles alongside the main players in the tragedy. Casanova provides answers to some of the pressing questions (such as the roots and extent of anticlerical violence) that have been asked in the 70 years that have passed since the painful defeat of the Second Republic. Now with a revised introduction, Casanova offers an overview of recent historiographical shifts; not least the wielding of the conflict to political ends in certain strands of contemporary historiography towards an alarming neo- Francoist revisionism. It is the ideal introduction to the Spanish Civil War. "In elegant and accessible prose, Julián Casanova tells the gripping story of the Spanish Civil War. These anguished and traumatic years filled Spain with hope, frustration and drama. Not only did it pit countryman against countryman, and neighbour against neighbour, but from 1936-39 this bitterly contended struggle sucked in competing and seemingly atavistic forces that were soon to rage across the face of Europe, and then the rest of the world: nationalism and republicanism; communism and fascism; anarchism and monarchism; anti-clerical reformism and aristocratic Catholic conservatism. The 'Guerra Civil' is of enduring interest precisely because it represents much more than just a regional contest for power and governmental legitimacy. It has come to be seen as a seedbed for the titanic political struggles and larger social upheavals that scarred the entire 20th century. Charting the most significant events and battles alongside the main players in the tragedy, Casanova provides answers to some of the pressing questions (such as the roots and extent of anticlerical violence) that have been asked in the 70 years that have passed since the painful defeat of the Second Republic. Now with a revised introduction, Casanova offers an overview of key historiographical shifts since the title was first published; not least the wielding of the conflict to political ends in certain strands of contemporary historiography towards an alarming neo-Francoist revisionism"-- Provided by publisher Half Title 6 Copyright Page 7 Contents 8 Illustrations 9 Figures 9 Maps 10 Preface to the revised edition 11 Acknowledgements 20 Introduction: The roots of the conflict 22 From monarchy to republic 23 The Republic 26 Why was there a civil war in Spain? 31 Timeline 36 1931 36 1936 36 Civil war 36 1937 37 1938 38 1939 38 Chapter 1: Spain split in half 40 Coup d’état 40 No rules, no government 48 From ‘hot-blooded’ to ‘legal’ terror 55 Chapter 2: Holy war and anticlerical hatred 60 The keys of the dispute 60 The civil war as a religious crusade 66 ‘The sons of Cain’29 78 Chapter 3: An international war on Spanish soil 92 The hounding of the Republic 93 Arms for the Republic 98 Soldiers of ideological battles 104 Chapter 4: The Republic at war 112 War and revolution 113 A trade union leader in the government 121 Juan Negrín: ‘Victory through resistance’ 128 Chapter 5: The new order 138 Militarism 139 Fascism and Catholicism 147 The roots of Franco’s dictatorship 152 Chapter 6: A long war 162 Armies against militias 163 Madrid 165 War of attrition 173 Defeat 184 Epilogue: An uncivil peace 190 Notes 198 Preface 198 Introduction 200 Chapter 1 201 Chapter 2 204 Chapter 3 208 Chapter 4 211 Chapter 5 215 Chapter 6 218 Epilogue 221 Bibliographic commentary 222 Index 225 Inhaltsverzeichnis: Introduction: The roots of the conflict -- Spain split in half -- Holy War and anticlerical hatred -- An international war on Spanish soil -- The Republic at war -- The new order -- A long war -- An uncivil peace