Fighting for Franco: International Volunteers in Nationalist Spain during the Spanish Civil War

by Judith Keene

One of the enduring myths of the Franco state was that the Nationalist forces that won the Civil War consisted of patriotic Spaniards while the Republic was defended by a rag tag army of foreign 'reds.' During the Spanish civil war, however, many groups on the European right were galvanized by the Nationalist cause. European fascists, conservative Catholics and those uneasy with liberal democracy in general rallied to the figure of Franco, who appeared to be holding the line against secularism, modernism and Bolshevism. This book recounts the experiences of a number of foreign volunteers, including the brigades of White Russians, Romanians, Irish and the French volunteers in the Jeanne d'Arc battalion, all of whom saw their engagement in Spain as a means of promoting their own political causes at home. As well there were individual women and men, from the New World and the Old, who were moved by religion, politics or simply adventurism to join up with Franco. Fighting for Franco reconstructs their motivation and the mind set which took them to Spain. It thus casts a new light on Nationalist Spain and on the specific concerns of a wide variety of right-wing movements between the wars.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Spanish Civil War

320 pages, Paperback

First published August 2, 2001

Reviews

[Alice Cuprill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read on a fascinating topic. The literary record of the Republican International Brigades is well know (Hemingway, Orwell, as two examples). This was the first time I'd read that foreign fighters went to Spain to fight on behalf of Franco as well. It's hard to fathom why men and women from around the world would go fight to bring down an elected government. Given current events, where we see these movements of young people, I should not be surprised that people are moved for lots of different reasons.

The book is clearly well researched. If you are interested in the Spanish Civil War, this book should be on your list.

[Jason Goodwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Extraordinary book. Everyone knows about foreign volunteers for Republican Spain (eg Orwell) but this is ostensibly the dark side. Fascists, yes, but also weirdos and warmongers and adventurers, especially in aeroplanes. Organised by country.

[Coffee & books · Rating 1 out of 5]

Poorly researched and colonial in approach.