Spain has been a nation that has had a lot of history over the decades. The 1930s were a pretty tumultuous time with major differences in politics that eventually led to a coup against the monarchy that pitted those in favor of the king (Republicans) against those wanting to overthrow it (Nationalists).

Chosen to lead the Nationalists was General Franco who had spent many years fighting in northwest Africa and so had a seasoned group of loyal troops. As you might think, both sides had pretty equal forces, but most of the troops thrown into the fighting had no experience. While the army and air forces were pretty evenly split in terms of loyalties, the Spanish Navy was not. While the officers were mostly Nationalists, the rest of the men were more aligned to the monarchy.

To say that the Nationalists leant towards fascism would be pretty accurate with some sects more radical than the others. Due to this political bent, the Nationalists got quite a bit of assistance from Germany and Italy in terms of troops and especially in equipment.

The Republicans drew assistance from the Soviet Union with covert help from France and some other nations. One thing to remember about those offering direct assistance is that these folks were relatively autonomous and not under direct control of the various sides they were assisting.

This book concentrates on the Nationalist forces and while it is typically a uniforms and equipment book, does a nice job of condensing the conflict into the various smaller campaigns. It also covers all the different groups and militias that came together to help ensure the Nationalist victory over the Republican forces. This effectively put Franco in power, a reign that lasted 35 years until his death in 1975 and the restoration of the monarchy in what we would now call a constitutional monarchy.

In addition to covering all the participants, there are several full color pages, chock full of uniforms and personal equipment that has made Osprey's Men At Arms series so popular. It is a great book on the subject and one that enthusiasts of the period should not miss.

June 2014

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