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I think its an interesting and important enough area to justify a lot of posts without getting boring. I was hoping for a series on this ever since the end of the HIV series
I was going to send you a comment actually. I really enjoyed the first essay but I felt at times you didn't give sufficient *insight* to the Republican/Anarchist/Communist/Socialist cause or the forces that fuelled them and their antipathy for the Catholic Church, etc. Not to say you're unduly prejudiced but I think your essays would be ever more stronger if they painted the scene and allowed the reader to arrive to certain conclusions with minimal omissions if you can help it. The simmering, extremist rage of the consolidated left is a fascinating topic -- both in 1930s Spain and 2020s West. I think devoting attention to it wouldn't hurt your overarching premise whatsoever.
There’s justification for the Republican pogroms against Catholics? Can’t wait to hear and compare against the other tortured rationalizations for terror that are a feature of this age.
The only article of yours that made me say, “Wow, this is really long!” was the one on Srdja Popovic. But now, when I went back to skim it, I thought “Actually, I should take a closer look at this.”
I’d also say that I remember the historical series that have a narrative arc, like your books reviews of Revolution in Bavaria and Godfather of the Kremlin, well. I know there are flaws to this method, but I like it.
I'd like to see a broad narrative laying out the principal causes and major events while also noting the future ramifications of the Civil War. At the end, I'd like a better, general understanding of the war's significance. I especially like your idea of discussing the "famous names" like George Orwell and your assessment of the war's influence on their writings and actions.
Excellent idea on the Abraham Lincoln Brigade… I am particularly curious about the literary angle where the politics of the literary publishing world (led by The NYer magazine) raised the shady Stalinist Ernest Hemingway to high literary heaven while marginalizing other literary figures of substance such as John Dos Passos who had a spat with Hemingway in Spain.
This is great news Nic 😃 I would like to know more about contemporary European attitudes towards the war (e.g. the funeral procession of Moțan and Marin) and military operations (e.g von Thoma’s role in developing tank warfare). Thank you again, very excited.
I endorse the idea of a stand-alone essay on the Abraham Lincoln Brigade. A few points.
One topic that I think merits attention is the role of the Comintern in organizing the international brigades. From a left perspective there has been an emphasis on the heroism of ALB. That’s understandable. As a young man, I was much impressed to learn that my father had volunteered to go to war, having considered his decision in light of my own and my family’s interest in having me avoid serving in the Vietnam War. The idealism of the ALB volunteers is indeed impressive.
But it’s also worth considering how they were in effect geopolitical pawns in service of Stalin’s foreign policy. I recall that at one public event, two veterans of ALB were asked about how ALB was organized. They ducked the question.
I also recall another time when my father was reminiscing with one of those veterans, and he asked about the fact that the Communist Party (as I recall it) kept an eye on the volunteers, making sure that they were politically reliable. Though not all the volunteers, as I understand it, were communists, many (a majority I believe) were. So the role of the CP merits attention.
I also recall, when visiting Spain with my father for a 50th anniversary commemoration of the departure of the international brigades, he admitted that they had been wrong to support Stalin. As a previously committed ideologue, his admission was surprising, and though it did not undermine his own belief that he had been correct in volunteering, for me it points to a complication in the legacy of the ALB.
I would also suggest that it would be worthwhile to place ALB in the broader context of the international brigades. Though I would not suggest dwelling on this aspect, it merits some attention, as it pertains to both the idealistic aspects and the role of the Comintern.
With time, my own inherited sympathies have evolved toward a more nuanced view. What I remember most about Homage to Catalonia is Orwell’s admonishment to beware his partisanship. That seems well worth considering in the current political circumstance, where partisanship block’s the ability to work toward a nuanced view.
That’s what piques my interest, but, based on your first essay, I am confident that you will bring to bear a great deal that has previously escaped my notice.
Don’t forget the Washington Battalion and the John Brown Battery. I’ve always been fascinated at the selection of those names (along with Lincoln) by communist forces.
I know that you mentioned that the number of famous people involved in this war were too many to name, but I really hope you can find something on George Orwell's role in the fight. I always wondered about the connection between his experience in the Spanish Civil War and his brilliant portrayals of communism. Orwell was an avowed socialist so it's not hard to imagine him on the side of that particular faction in the war.
Orwell was not a Communist. In fact, he was almost killed by the Communists in Spain, and barely got out alive! Read Homage to Catalonia for the thrilling (no joke) details.
Motivated by your essay, I bought Hugh Thomas' 1000+ page book on the Spanish Civil War. I see no need for you to go into as much detail as Thomas does. May I suggest that you select topics, or questions, and offer your perspective/opinion that might elicit a robust comments section.?
Click the like button at the top or bottom of the page to like this entry. Use the share and/or re-stack buttons to share this across social media. Leave a comment if the mood strikes you to do so.
And please consider subscribing if you haven't done so already.
I think its an interesting and important enough area to justify a lot of posts without getting boring. I was hoping for a series on this ever since the end of the HIV series
Well, you're gonna get it. I appreciate the support.
I was going to send you a comment actually. I really enjoyed the first essay but I felt at times you didn't give sufficient *insight* to the Republican/Anarchist/Communist/Socialist cause or the forces that fuelled them and their antipathy for the Catholic Church, etc. Not to say you're unduly prejudiced but I think your essays would be ever more stronger if they painted the scene and allowed the reader to arrive to certain conclusions with minimal omissions if you can help it. The simmering, extremist rage of the consolidated left is a fascinating topic -- both in 1930s Spain and 2020s West. I think devoting attention to it wouldn't hurt your overarching premise whatsoever.
Your criticism is a very good and fair one, but I had two constraints on the first essay:
1. the request was to "hear the other side"
2. brevity...the first one is more than 7,000 words long
I'll be taking a more objective look going forward and want to cover the pre-war development of the major active participants in the conflict
There’s justification for the Republican pogroms against Catholics? Can’t wait to hear and compare against the other tortured rationalizations for terror that are a feature of this age.
Pipe down bozo. Adults are talking.
About pogroms and ideological murder. Lots of words come to mind, but adults aren’t on of them...”Ace”
Ever heard of Federico Garcia Lorca?
One of the many victims of that war whose fated was sealed by where they chose to spend their summer holidays.
I am interested to hear more about the international factions and their 'big names'.
One thing I've heard, but not researched much is the NKVD's involvement and if there was any gold movement from Spain to the USSR.
Also, the atrocities committed against Catholics that doesn't get much play in the normie narrative of this conflict.
For sure bro
It’s in your wheelhouse for sure. Looking forward to it!
How deep? Deep!
The only article of yours that made me say, “Wow, this is really long!” was the one on Srdja Popovic. But now, when I went back to skim it, I thought “Actually, I should take a closer look at this.”
I’d also say that I remember the historical series that have a narrative arc, like your books reviews of Revolution in Bavaria and Godfather of the Kremlin, well. I know there are flaws to this method, but I like it.
I appreciate the feedback, Andrew!
I'd like to see a broad narrative laying out the principal causes and major events while also noting the future ramifications of the Civil War. At the end, I'd like a better, general understanding of the war's significance. I especially like your idea of discussing the "famous names" like George Orwell and your assessment of the war's influence on their writings and actions.
I really should do a "why this war was so important" essay as well
Good! But small request (literally) - why not break them into smaller articles, even if you've written the whole thing?
YES
Excellent idea on the Abraham Lincoln Brigade… I am particularly curious about the literary angle where the politics of the literary publishing world (led by The NYer magazine) raised the shady Stalinist Ernest Hemingway to high literary heaven while marginalizing other literary figures of substance such as John Dos Passos who had a spat with Hemingway in Spain.
This is great news Nic 😃 I would like to know more about contemporary European attitudes towards the war (e.g. the funeral procession of Moțan and Marin) and military operations (e.g von Thoma’s role in developing tank warfare). Thank you again, very excited.
I endorse the idea of a stand-alone essay on the Abraham Lincoln Brigade. A few points.
One topic that I think merits attention is the role of the Comintern in organizing the international brigades. From a left perspective there has been an emphasis on the heroism of ALB. That’s understandable. As a young man, I was much impressed to learn that my father had volunteered to go to war, having considered his decision in light of my own and my family’s interest in having me avoid serving in the Vietnam War. The idealism of the ALB volunteers is indeed impressive.
But it’s also worth considering how they were in effect geopolitical pawns in service of Stalin’s foreign policy. I recall that at one public event, two veterans of ALB were asked about how ALB was organized. They ducked the question.
I also recall another time when my father was reminiscing with one of those veterans, and he asked about the fact that the Communist Party (as I recall it) kept an eye on the volunteers, making sure that they were politically reliable. Though not all the volunteers, as I understand it, were communists, many (a majority I believe) were. So the role of the CP merits attention.
I also recall, when visiting Spain with my father for a 50th anniversary commemoration of the departure of the international brigades, he admitted that they had been wrong to support Stalin. As a previously committed ideologue, his admission was surprising, and though it did not undermine his own belief that he had been correct in volunteering, for me it points to a complication in the legacy of the ALB.
I would also suggest that it would be worthwhile to place ALB in the broader context of the international brigades. Though I would not suggest dwelling on this aspect, it merits some attention, as it pertains to both the idealistic aspects and the role of the Comintern.
With time, my own inherited sympathies have evolved toward a more nuanced view. What I remember most about Homage to Catalonia is Orwell’s admonishment to beware his partisanship. That seems well worth considering in the current political circumstance, where partisanship block’s the ability to work toward a nuanced view.
That’s what piques my interest, but, based on your first essay, I am confident that you will bring to bear a great deal that has previously escaped my notice.
Don’t forget the Washington Battalion and the John Brown Battery. I’ve always been fascinated at the selection of those names (along with Lincoln) by communist forces.
I know that you mentioned that the number of famous people involved in this war were too many to name, but I really hope you can find something on George Orwell's role in the fight. I always wondered about the connection between his experience in the Spanish Civil War and his brilliant portrayals of communism. Orwell was an avowed socialist so it's not hard to imagine him on the side of that particular faction in the war.
His book on his time in that war, Homage to Catalonia, is probably my favourite book of all time.
Wow, I didn’t realize he wrote a nonfiction book about that. That’s going on my reading list!
And please don't forget to tell us about Trotsky and POUM
Very, very interesting subject with a lot of misconceptions.
Just read his book?
I would just like to add to the chorus of people requesting you do this series. I know the following about the Spanish civil war:
* George Orwell went to fight in it because he's a communist
* The German Air Force fought in it, because they hate communists
* The fascists won and stayed in power until the 70s.
Aside from those three bullet points, it's a big empty gap in my knowledge of history and I would love to learn more about it
You will enjoy it, bro
Orwell was not a Communist. In fact, he was almost killed by the Communists in Spain, and barely got out alive! Read Homage to Catalonia for the thrilling (no joke) details.
See, I'm already learning something new!
No spoilers. It is all in the book!
I'll happily read as much detail on this subject as you care to write.
Motivated by your essay, I bought Hugh Thomas' 1000+ page book on the Spanish Civil War. I see no need for you to go into as much detail as Thomas does. May I suggest that you select topics, or questions, and offer your perspective/opinion that might elicit a robust comments section.?