Book Description

The Spanish Civil War engaged not only the Spanish people, but also the ideologies of Left and Right, which had long underpinned conflict within several nations, though rarely with the same level of savagery as in Spain. The war ended in 1939, a few months before the second world war commenced, and in which the combatants stood for Fascism on the one hand, and Democracy, and Communism, on the other. Other countries became the battle fields, and France was prominent among them because of its size and pivotal location. Its eventual liberation from enemy occupation was a major aim of the Allies from the start, and the planning for that included turning the demoralised and defeated French into active resisters. This was a special challenge for Britain's aggressive secret service, Special Operations Executive (SOE), and the story within is largely about how it responded, and its links to the French Resistance. Spain was not in the second world war, but many Spaniards were, having fled to France from the civil war. Great numbers of Jews also sought refuge there from Nazi persecution in neighbouring countries. All the refugees were treated coldly by France, and the Jews without mercy. Antisemitic France's nadir came with its complicity in the deportation of Jews on Nazi death trains. The story honours both bravery and compassion during the terrible times of the second world war, with special regard for the women of the SOE.