The Spanish Civil War 1936-39 (2): Republican Forces

by Alejandro de Quesada, Stephen Walsh (Illustrator)

Overview

This book offers an extensive overview of the myriad Republican forces during the Spanish Civil War, 1936-39. The conflict was the curtain-raiser to World War II, and the major international event of the 1930s. The study illustrates, textually and visually, how the Republican forces were initially varied in appearance and character. Loyal elements of the Spanish army that rejected the appeal of the rebel generals were supported by a wide range of volunteer regional units and political militias, and by volunteers from many other countries.
These disparate forces were later amalgamated—by force—into the Communist-dominated People's Army. Thereafter their motley array of clothing, weapons and equipment became rather more uniform as the Soviet Union provided support and supplies on a large scale. Featuring specially commissioned full-color artwork, this second part of a two-part study depicts the fighting men of the Republican forces that strove to retain control of Spain alongside thousands of international volunteers.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781782007852
Publisher:	Bloomsbury USA
Publication date:	01/20/2015
Series:	Men-at-Arms , #498
Pages:	48
Product dimensions:	7.28(w) x 9.86(h) x 0.14(d)

About the Author

Alejandro de Quesada is a Florida-based military history writer, an experienced researcher, and collector of militaria, photos and documents. He runs an archive and historical consultancy for museums and films as a secondary business. Alejandro has written over 100 articles and over 25 books, including several for Osprey, and is a leading authority on Latin American subjects. The author lives in Tampa, FL.

Table of Contents

The Spanish Second Republic 3

From Gen Primo de Rivera's coup d'etat, 1923, to the military rebellion, July 1936

Chronology 5

Creation of the Ejército Popular 11

The militias, 1936

'Militarization', 1936-37

Organization of Formation & Units 14

Mixed brigades - international brigades - divisions, and command - army corps, armies and army groups

Soviet armour

Representative formations: 11 a Division - 43a Division - 84a Brigada Mixta

Basque & Catalonian Units 22

Basque Army

Catalonian Army

The Navy 24

Warships in service

Basque Auxiliary Navy

The Air Force 33

Security Forces 36

Guatdia Civil - Cuerpo de Seguridad y Asalto - Carabineros-Catalonian Mossos d'Esquadra - Basque Ertzaintza

Small Arms 37

Rifles - machine guns - hand grenades

Aftermath 39

Further Reading 40

Plate Commentaries 43

Index 48