The Spanish Civil War /

The Spanish Civil War erupted in the summer of 1936 in a Europe increasingly divided by ideological tensions and national antagonisms. The uprising of the Spanish military triggered a revolutionary response in several parts of the peninsula, and the infant Republic desperately sought to survive in a situation increasingly beyond its control. The war lasted for nearly three years, was bitterly fought, and concluded with victory by the military, aided by Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany. Many excellent studies have been devoted to the war, its origins in Spanish history, major events and key participants, and its aftermath--the long dictatorship (1939-75) of General Franco. This particular work is designed for undergraduates and classroom discussion, and features sections on the Primo dictatorship of the 1920's, the Second Republic, military rising and response, European and Soviet roles, and Franco. Each section offers a brief narrative, sets out problems of interpretation, offers analysis and critical questions and answers, and provides brief excerpts from important sources. A select bibliography includes a listing of major films. Useful for undergraduate instruction, although several of the critical questions posed are very elementary. N. Greene; Wesleyan University