I have recently watched Discovery History's 'Battlefield Mysteries' - and in particular the programme about The Spanish Civil War.Constant incorrect references were made to 'the fascists' under Franco - when they were largely falangist a party separate from fascism at least in Spain, where it was the province of General Franco himself.
I lived in Franco's Spain and although it was disagreeable, I suspect that it would have been far worse had the motley crew of anarchists, marxists and socialists called 'Republicans' won.
I find the tearful paeans of praise for The International Brigades quite sickening. Most were not 'fighting for freedom' at all but were promoting extreme leftwing ideals. They wanted one extreme to replace another.
Franco took help from Hitler - the Republicans were bankrolled by Stalin.
To make one side 'devils' and the other 'angels' is risible.
Claims that the war was against a democratic government are only technically true inasmuch as the government had totally 'lost the plot' and the war was probably fomented by brutal attacks, murders and rapes by republicans against priests, nuns and monks as well as policies of property confiscation.
Atrocities were certainly committed by both sides - and arguably, more by the Republicans!
I have studied this conflict in some depth and even used to teach it as an 'A' Level Spanish topic.
I certainly had no love for Franco but balanced reporting in history is essential.
