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The Spanish Holocaust: Inquisition and Extermination in Twentieth-Century Spain

by Paul Preston

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3841165,637 (3.8)16
Long neglected by European historians, the unspeakable atrocities of Franco's Spain are finally brought to tragic light in this definitive work by Paul Preston, the world's foremost historian of 20th-century Spain.
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Spanish (6)  English (4)  German (1)  All languages (11)
Showing 4 of 4
This is one of those books that angers the reader because of the injustices perpetrated during the Spanish Civil War, some by both sides, but primarily by those allied with Franco. Also, the role of the Catholic church is pretty shocking. One would expect good Christians to oppose cruel treatment of anyone, regardless of their religious beliefs. When priests not only advocate the execution of the opposition but actually do the executing one has to wonder, if there is an afterlife, where those priests are today.
Like all oppressive regimes, Franco and his allies understood early that they had to control people's thoughts. They had a very effective propaganda machine designed to convince the Spanish public and the rest of the world that the Spanish Republicans were really the evil ones. In some cases, particularly with the anarchists, that was true. For the most part, though, Franco's forces were much more brutal with innocent people than the Republican forces were.
The biggest problem I had with this book was the repetitive detail. Mr. Preston catalogs pretty much what happened in every town in Spain. There are sections where he tells ad infinitum what the rebel forces did as they marched from town to town, and it is the same in each town--torture and kill the political leaders, teachers, writers, etc., and all their family and friends. The local women seemed to get the same torture everywhere--raped, shaved their heads, made them drink castor oil, marched them in front of the public. After a few of these towns, we get the idea and don't need it repeated endlessly.
Another problem with the book is the plethora of names Mr. Preston gives. There are literally thousands of names in the book, and almost all of them are mentioned only once. There is little need to list the name of a mayor of a small Spanish town, especially when the mayor is quickly executed and plays no other part in the book. Many of these people's names are given and one or two sentences are devoted to them. It seems there should have been an editor for this book, someone to tell Mr. Preston he needs to cut out about a quarter of what he has.
Aside from these two problems, this was an interesting book. Mr. Preston is extremely knowledgeable about his topic. If someone is researching the Spanish Civil War, I would say this book is a must-read. However, if you want a more readable book that gives more of an overview of the war, I would look elsewhere. ( )
  ChuckRinn | Oct 4, 2020 |
I've read a number of books on the Spanish Civil War, but this is the first by Paul Preston (to my shame). The book itself is a difficult read, detailing much of the horrors of a conflict that was a defining moment in twentieth century European history. Many of the passages made me feel physically sick, repulsed by the inhumanity of those engaged in the conflict. It is certainly worth keeping this in mind if you intend on reading this book.

Preston details the atrocities committed on both sides. However, he clearly sets out how the atrocities committed by the rebels were part of an overarching strategy. Led by Franco, the rebels were obsessed with eradicating left-wing (Jewish-Marxist as they saw it) influence from Spain, an influence they saw as "cancerous". They pursued this strategy with utter ruthlessness, executing anyone who exhibited the tendencies they sought to eradicate from Spain. Families of those executed were impoverished (if not worse) and children removed from families and placed under the care of those sympathetic to the rebels.

This contrasted starkly with the Republicans. Whilst atrocities were committed in their name, they were not part of an overall strategy and, indeed, efforts were made to put a stop to any atrocities committed by Republican forces.

Overall, I would certainly recommend this excellent, thoroughly researched book, but I would advise to be prepared for some very disturbing and upsetting passages. Not since American Psycho have I been so inclined to put a book down and walk away. The difference being, of course, that these events were very real and, consequently, infinitely more disturbing. ( )
2 vote ijclark | Mar 31, 2013 |
The term 'holocaust' is one contentious, reserved solely now for the gravest of atrocities (with hyperbole notwithstanding). Although on a slightly smaller scale, Preston makes the assertion that the killings of the Spanish Civil War, and later the Franco regime, are systemic and deliberate in nature, comparable to Hitler or Stalin.

Spain, currently struggling with economic woes, still has some of the remnants and nightmares of the last Fascist regime in Europe. Only in the last ten years have steps been taken to make restitution to the victims and recognize his crimes. But there are still those who look up to him as a paragon of order, a modern Crusader, a paragon of traditional values. Some still make pilgrimages to his gaudy monument of 'reconciliation', Valle de los Caidos, partially built by prisoners and slave labor.

Preston's main thesis is as follows - The Franco regime, during the Civil War and after, knowingly and willingly committed atrocities on a large scale against political opponents, and civilians. More died behind the lines than on the front itself.

As for the leftist Republic of Spain, they are not wholly absolved of responsibility - there was considerable backlash against other elements of society - religious, and conservative alike. However, the left had no real centralized control over large areas of the country, and Preston condemns the Anarchist factions in particular. Although their crimes were done as retribution, or defiance, or more likely sheer desperation, he does not absolve them. The Francoists won, and therefore had more time and power to do as they wished. But the fact remains - the leftists killed 50,000 behind their lines in the civil war, and the rightists 150,000.

This is rather exhausting to read. X army moved to Y village, and massacred the inhabitants, looted, plundered, raped the women. In reprisal, Z army moved to Y village and attacked the X sympathizers in W village before being forced... and so on. Numerous figures are introduced only to die terribly shortly after. 500 pages of this at least. It is almost numbing. But one must continue.

Of course, the most frustrating thing is that Franco continued after this. Mussolini was hung on a hook, Hitler turned to ashes, the rest of the fascists all gone. He became a 'good dictator', an ally in the fight against Communism. Like Mobutu Sese Seko, or Pinochet, or Batista. Or Saddam. The hazards of ideology and intervention. Spain became a police state, and an oddly feudal relic of fascism, with democratization only occurring in the past three decades. Only recently has anything even been said against him.

This is a valuable historical work, an indictment of crimes against humanity, although I'm not sure if I can 'recommend' it. A general history by the author might have been a better place to go first. ( )
2 vote HadriantheBlind | Mar 30, 2013 |
Hasta pag 169
  Ironmanu | Jan 24, 2012 |
Showing 4 of 4
An eminent and prolific British historian of modern Spain, Preston says this was “an extremely painful book to write.” It is also, unlike several of his other works, a difficult book to read. The newcomer to Spanish history will nowhere learn the difference between the Assault Guard and the Civil Guard, or between a Carlist and an integrist. Chapters roll on for 40 or 50 pages without a break. A blizzard of names of thousands of perpetrators and the towns where they carried out their tortures and killings overwhelms the reader. “The Spanish Holocaust” is not really a narrative but a comprehensive prosecutor’s brief. With its immense documentation — 120 pages of endnotes to both published and unpublished material in at least five languages, including corrections of errors in these sources — it is bound to be an essential reference for anything written on the subject for years to come.
 

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Long neglected by European historians, the unspeakable atrocities of Franco's Spain are finally brought to tragic light in this definitive work by Paul Preston, the world's foremost historian of 20th-century Spain.

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