Carn Publishing Churchill, Franco and the Spanish Civil War.

by Frank Hotchkiss

Paperback

Reviews

[A D · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve always been an admirer of Churchill. In my view, when it came down to the most important matter of the 20th century, he was right. Hitler and German militarism were a terrible evil which had to be stopped. While he was not a lone voice on this issue, he was the one who spoke loudest, longest and most eloquently and who in the darkest days of WW2 encapsulated the British people’s will to fight on. As the author of this book shows however, Churchill wasn’t the great enemy of fascism that he has often been portrayed as. In truth as a right wing, imperialist scion of an aristocratic family, his most virulent political hatred was for communism. He turned a blind eye to much of Franco’s crimes and was even prepared to defend them rather than see a democratically elected left wing government in power. His position on Spain flip flopped depending on what the situation was regarding their relationship with the Nazis. This is a very interesting book that casts a more critical eye over the Churchill legend, something that many of his biographers would rather avoid. All that being said though, I still can’t help but think that without him the world would be a much darker place.

[Sarah Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

This note offers an insightful glimpse into Churchill, Franco and the Spanish Civil War, highlighting the complex political dance between Britain and Spain during a volatile era. It effectively underscores Churchill’s ambiguous stance, caught between ideological opposition to fascism and strategic non intervention. The content seems to promise a deep dive into diplomatic maneuvering, personal convictions, and the broader implications for WWII. It's an intriguing, well focused study for readers interested in 20th century European history and the murky intersections of politics and war.