Osprey Men-at-Arms 74 : The Spanish Civil War

By the spring of 1936 it was becoming increasingly evident that Spain was heading for an armed clash between the forces of the extreme Left; led by 'Largo Caballero', who, backed by the ultras and their militia groups intended to impose a Stalin-type Communist government, and the extreme Right; a clique of high-ranking army officers led by veteran General Sanjurjo, who planned a similar coup and counted on the support of anti-Communist, Catholic and traditionalist elements of all classes of society. Meanwhile, the moderate Republican government of Madrid was seemingly helpless to curb the activities of either side. Indeed, by mid-July the only question was which of the two factions would strike first. Patrick Turnbull tells the remarkable story of the Spanish Civil War 1936-39, from its beginnings to its dramatic conclusion, charting the fluctuating fortunes of both sides. Numerous illustrations and contemporary photographs throughout detail the equipment and uniforms of the forces involved, together with eight full colour plates by Jeffrey Burn.

Contents

• Background
• The Republican Army
• The Nationalist Army
• The Campaign
• The Plates