The Spanish Civil War at Sea: Dark and Dangerous Waters

by Michael Alpert

Overview

The Spanish Civil War of 1936-1939 underlined the importance of the sea as the supply route to both General Franco's insurgents and the Spanish Republic. There were attempted blockades by Franco as well as attacks by his Italian and German allies against legitimate neutral, largely British, merchant shipping bound for Spanish Republican ports and challenges to the Royal Navy, which was obliged to maintain a heavy presence in the area. The conflict provoked splits in British public opinion. Events at sea both created and reflected the international tensions of the latter 1930s, when the policy of appeasement of Germany and Italy dissuaded Britain from taking action against those countries’ activities in Spain, except to participate in a largely ineffective naval patrol to try to prevent the supply of war material to both sides. The book is based on original documentary sources in both Britain and Spain and is intended for the general reader as well as students and academics interested in the history of the 1930s, in naval matters and in the Spanish Civil War.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781526764379
Publisher:	Pen & Sword Books Limited
Publication date:	07/08/2022
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	256
File size:	10 MB

Table of Contents

Preface viii

Chapter 1 Setting the Scene 1

Chapter 2 The Die is Cast 19

Chapter 3 Tangiers and Gibraltar. Franco Crosses the Strait 40

Chapter 4 Reorganisation 60

Chapter 5 Off the Northern Coast 72

Chapter 6 War Material Comes from Abroad. The Insurgents Try to Block Merchant Traffic. 88

Chapter 7 The War Against Traffic Continues as the Russians Send War Material to the Republic 110

Chapter 8 Winter and Spring 1937 in the Mediterranean 126

Chapter 9 The Naval Campaign in the Cantabrian Sea 145

Chapter 10 Non-intervention and the International Patrol 167

Chapter 11 Two Spanish Navies in Contrast 187

Chapter 12 1938, Testing the Limits of British Tolerance 207

Chapter 13 Surrender, Evacuation and Flight 225

Conclusion 240

Appendix I Technical Details of Spanish Warships 248

Appendix II Soviet Naval Officers in Republican Spain 250

Notes 253

Bibliography 275

Index 281

Editorial Reviews

"Alpert’s book illuminates the least-known aspect of the Spanish Civil War. It is a good read, a valuable reference, and is recommended."

The Northern Mariner

"...an excellent treatment of the largest sea war between the world wars."

The NYMAS Review