The Battle For Spain, The Spanish Civil War 1936-1939. Antony Beevor

 

Antony Beevor is a master at historical writing tackling difficult and complicated subjects and presenting them to us in a neat package. 

The Spanish civil war is such a case, the roots of the conflict are multi layered but the picture that opens this book sets the foundation perfectly. It depicts the Monarch is his broken down motor car waiting for it to be fixed by a mechanic, with another servant holding a standby horse. All the servants have faces that have been browned by the sun while the monarch displays his sheltered look. Meanwhile his population struggles with a poor economy and lack of employment. 

The Spanish civil war is important in modern history it’s a step in the development of modern warfare and a bloody rehearsal for World War 2 which is around the corner. The terror tactics that were used by both sides and the combination of air and ground units fighting in harmony would be put into practice on a grander scale just years latter. Family’s spending days under ground to seek shelter from daily air attacks would repeated in British smd German city’s just months after this conflict. 

Antony Beevor is a master of history and if you have an interest in World War 2 and the development of mechanised warfare then this book is a must read. From the roots of the conflict to its development and final out come Beevor puts you the reader in the heart of the action and decision making and the sometimes heartbreaking results from poor leadership. It’s a journey of pain and suffering that you should experience.

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