Memories of Resistance

Womens Voices from the Spanish Civil War
by Shirley Mangini
Yale University Press, £ 17.95,256pp,36 illus,

This book analyses the role of women in the SCW at all levels: social, political, economic and military. The book spotlights the role of women in the government's efforts on the front line and in the rear.

The book has 36 illustrations, many of which, I believe, are unseen outside of Spain. The book covers the military role well and acknowledges the Rosa Luxembourg battalion.

However, the book is written from the socio-political dimension and is probably written for the undergraduate or post graduate. Any one interested in buying the book should pick it up and read it before buying or borrow it from your local library.

Mussolini's Soldiers

by R. Trye

Airlife books, £ 24.95,167 pages,24 pages of colour plates,illustrated with black & white photos throughout. The original title in the sales specification for '94 stated 200 pages with 220 photos and the included the descriptor 1922-1943.

This book originally should have had enormous interest for the SCW enthusiast. However I believe the fact that the book was delayed 9 months and that the author appears to have been relying on 3rd parties for much of his source material (these appear to have died recently) seems to account for this book almost entirely forgetting about the Italian contribution in Spain. Indeed I can only count 3 references to Spain in the whole book.

The book attempts to be a hardback Osprey where the author has gone into detail on uniforms and used more photographs. There is a lot on the Ethiopian campaigns and Libyan for WWII and a few personal recollections which the reader may find interesting.

The book is really for the Italian nut who has an interest not just in the SCW. The book essentially gives valuable information on uniforms and weapons that, although not referred to as being used in Spain, almost certainly were. I do however recommend that you do at least take a look at the book either borrow it from a friend or local library.

The old Athena handbook on the Italian army may of of more use although it is long out of date. Two further books I feel are worthy of chasing and if anybody has these or has seen them I would appreciate their comments:

J. L. Alcofar Nassaes; C.T.V Los Legionarios Italianos en la Guerra Civil Espanola 1936-1939, Dopesa, Barcelona, 1972.
J. F. Coverdale; Italian Intervention in the Spanish Civil War, Princeton University Press, 1975. N.B I have recently borrowed this from the library and it is without doubt excellent - more on this in the next edition.

History Today Magazine

20 Old Compton St., LONDON, W1V 5PE.
UK SUB £ 28.50, EUROPE £ 41.50, USA $54.95, ROW £ 55.

The above is probably well known to historians and students alike, and has featured many articles of use on the SCW with the March 95 issue featuring an piece on the Colonel Duffy's Irish Blueshirts.

Indeed there have been many other articles :

November 1983 featured an article called "Franco's Path to Power".

March 1989 featured 3 articles entitled; "Uncivil war - the military struggle", "Why the republic lost" and "Revenge and reconciliation."

The August 1985 issue featured a more obscure article "Spanish Football under Franco."

The October 1993 issue featured an article titled "Anarchy in 1930's Barcelona."

All the above copies are available from History Today. Each copy costs £ 3.75 inc P& p inside the UK and £ 4.75 outside the UK.

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