Historical Dictionary of the Spanish Civil War

Francisco J. Romero Salvadó

Mar 2013 · Scarecrow Press

About this ebook

The tragedy that devastated Spain for 33 months from July 1936 to April 1939, was, first and foremost, a brutal fratricidal conflict, the product of the fatal clash between diametrically opposed views of Spain and an attempt to settle crucial issues which had divided Spaniards for generations: agrarian reform, recognition of the identity of the historical regions (Catalonia, the Basque Country), and the roles of the Catholic Church and the armed forces in a modern state. Being a war between Spaniards, it was particularly brutal, but it was also part of the broader move toward war in Europe and thus sucked in many “volunteers” from abroad. And it left a deep imprint since General Francisco Franco remained at the helm of the country until his death in 1975.

The Historical Dictionary of the Spanish Civil war covers the history of the war, first through a long chronology, which highlights the major steps from the incubation to the conclusion. The overall situation is summed up in the introduction. Then the dictionary section fleshes it out, with over 600 entries on persons, places, events, institutions, battles, and campaigns. More reading can be found in an extensive bibliography. This book is an excellent access point for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more about the Spanish Civil War.

About the author

Francisco J. Romero Salvado, who grew up and did his earlier education in Spain, is presently a professor in the Department of Hispanic Studies at Bristol University. His field of specialization is Spain from the late 19th century to the 1930s, and in particular organized labor, liberal and authoritarian politics, Catalan nationalism, and the Spanish Civil War, on which he is a recognized specialist. He has written extensively on it, including The Spanish Civil War: Origins, Course and Outcomes and The Foundations of the Civil War.