Shocked

I must confess that front page drawing from ABANDERADO last issue no. 3 shock me. Spanish Civil War was not a "fiesta", nothing to do with wine "sangria" and the bullfights. But another kind of "sangria" (literally means a blood bath), and one of the cruelst struggles of this century, main laboratory for the war industry of the Nazi Germans and Italian Fascism in one side and the Stalinism on the other. Hopefully the last chapter of a non-stop civil war that began with the defeat of Napoleon in Spain and the struggle between the conservative absolutism of Fernando VII aided by the European empires, and the liberals influenced by the French revolutionary ideas, the three civil "Carlist" wars, and the continous millitary coups in support of any of these ideas.

Notwithstanding above, and now with reference to the editorial anecdotes, I don't know if we Spaniards ever had a good Government, but note that if there is a difference between SCW and other civil wars, it is the deep belief and commitment the Spanish people had on their political ideas for a better world (both sides) and the fierce defence they made for them.

ED- In response to Jaimes letter, I can only apologise for any offence caused; the cover on number 3 was seen by me as symbolic only in the sense of a titanic struggle (as symbolically shown by Dalis painting Spain 1936 on the front of issue 4), of conflict and fear, of pain and bloodshed, with in the end an inevitable winner. Again we must emphasise the fact that this was a Spanish war affecting Spanish people, and although the war had far reaching effects politically, economically and socially - the war was a Spanish affair and we respect that fact.

Information Request

(note substitute PZ 2,3,4 for M2,3,4). Replies via the editor.

I have read-in the book "relatos y reflexiones de la Guerra de Espana 1936-1939," from Francisco Ciutat that during the offensive to get Valencia, on 17th July 1938 there was a battalion from the Experimental Tank Company of the Legion Condor (Compania de Carros Experimental) equipped with "heavy M-4 tanks" such as those used on the French campaign in May 1940. This battalion: 'participated in a secret operation consisting in the occupation of El Toro setting off from Barracas (distance 6 Km), both villages near the main road; from Teruel to Sagunto."

The author also mentions other tanks such as the; (literally) "M-2 and M-3". Then Francisco Fernandez Mateos says in his publication "Blindados y Carros de Combate del Ejercito Espanol 1910-1992" that this Compania de Carros Experimental probably disposed of prottotypes of "Panzer II". Who knows better about this? What markings did they have?