Spain Betrayed: The Soviet Union in the Spanish Civil War (Annals of Communism Series)

The Spanish Civil War has long been the stuff of legend. Thousands of brave young men from all over the Western world, most of them organized by their local Communist parties, rushed to Spain to support the democratic Republic against right-wing forces led by rebellious generals in the Spanish officer corps. Although the Republic was eventually defeated, some observers believed that the effort to defend it was a selfless undertaking of the international Communist movement and the Soviet Union -- a noble crusade against Hitler, Mussolini, and their Spanish puppet Franco.This book presents a very different view of the role of the Soviet Union in this war. Based on previously unavailable Moscow archives, it provides the first full documentation of that country's duplicitous and self-serving activities. Documents in the book reveal that the Soviet Union not only swindled the Spanish Republic out of millions of dollars through arms deals but also sought to take over and run the Spanish economy, government, and armed forces in order to make Spain a Soviet possession, thereby effectively destroying the foundations of authentic Spanish antifascism. The documents also shed light on many other disputed episodes of the war: the timing of the Republican request for assistance from the Soviet Union; the rise and fall of the International Brigades; the internal workings of the Comintern and its influence on Spain; and much more. Authoritative and startling in the new information it offers, the book is essential reading for anyone interested in Soviet foreign policy or the Spanish Civil War. Spain Betrayed Provides Full Documentation Of The Soviets' Activities During The Spanish Civil War. Documents In The Book Reveal That The Soviet Union Not Only Swindled The Spanish Republic Out Of Millions Of Dollars Through Arms Deals But Also Sought To Take Over And Run The Spanish Economy, Government, And Armed Forces In Order To Make Spain A Soviet Possession, Thereby Effectively Destroying The Foundations Of Authentic Spanish Antifascism. The Documents Also Shed Light On Many Other Disputed Episodes Of The War: The Timing Of The Republican Request For Assistance From The Soviet Union; The Rise And Fall Of The International Brigades; The Internal Workings Of The Comintern And Its Influence On Spain; And Much More.--book Jacket. Chapter 1. 1936 -- Moscow And The Comintern Set The Stage 1 -- Early Political Maneuvers 15 -- The Soviets Intervene 18 -- The Advisers Begin Their Work 22 -- Ilya Ehrenburg 23 -- Andre Marty 32 -- Vladimir Gorev 55 -- Vladimir Antonov-ovseenko 70 -- Iosif Ratner 84 -- Artur Stashevsky 88 -- The Advisers And The Purges 93 -- The Soviets Urge The Catalans To Stay The Course 95 -- The Spanish Civil War And Espionage 98 -- The International Brigades 103 -- Chapter 2. 1937 -- The Situation In A New Year 106 -- Internal Factional Fights 120 -- The Internal Conflict Increases 150 -- Barcelona : The Civil War Within The Civil War 171 -- The Negrin Government And The War Against The Poum 208 -- The Decline Of The International Brigades 233 -- The Gru, The Soviet Advisers, And Control Of The Republican Army 261 -- The Year Draws To A Close 368 -- Chapter 3. 1938-1939 -- Arms For Spain 421 -- The International Brigades Disintegrate 431 -- The People's Army And The Soviet Advisers 474 -- The Question Of Negrin 497 -- A Final Summing Up And A Footnote 500. 1936 -- 1937 -- 1938-1939. Edited By Ronald Radosh, Mary R. Habeck, And Grigory Sevostianov. Translations Of Documents From Former Soviet State And Party Archives. Includes Bibliographical References And (p. 513-525) Index. Contents List of Illustrations Acknowledgments Introduction Historical Background Note on the Documents List of Abbreviations and Acronyms CHAPTER ONE 1936 Moscow and the Comintern Set the Stage Early Political Maneuvers The Soviets Intervene The Advisers Begin Their Work Ilya Ehrenburg André Marty Vladimir Gorev Vladimir Antonov-Ovseenko Iosif Ratner Artur Stashevsky The Advisers and the Purges The Soviets Urge the Catalans to Stay the Course The Spanish Civil War and Espionage The International Brigades CHAPTER TWO 1937 The Situation in a New Year Internal Factional Fights The Internal Conflict Increases Barcelona: The Civil War Within the Civil War The Negrín Government and the War Against the POUM The Decline of the International Brigades The GRU, the Soviet Advisers, and Control of the Republican Army The Year Draws to a Close CHAPTER THREE 1938 – 1939 Arms for Spain The International Brigades Disintegrate The People’s Army and the Soviet Advisers The Question of Negrín A Final Summing Up and a Footnote Notes Index "Spain Betrayed provides full documentation of the Soviets' activities during the Spanish Civil War. Documents in the book reveal that the Soviet Union not only swindled the Spanish Republic out of millions of dollars through arms deals but also sought to take over and run the Spanish economy, government, and armed forces in order to make Spain a Soviet possession, thereby effectively destroying the foundations of authentic Spanish antifascism. The documents also shed light on many other disputed episodes of the war: the timing of the Republican request for assistance from the Soviet Union; the rise and fall of the International Brigades; the internal workings of the Comintern and its influence on Spain; and much more."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved This book presents a very different view of the role of the Soviet Union in the Spanish Civil War. Based on previously unavailable Moscow archives, it provides the first full documentation of that country's duplicitous and self-serving activities. Illustrations. THE FIRST FEW MONTHS of the Spanish Civil War set the stage for all that would follow.