Spanish Civil War

[Franconicus]

There are many polls and club deviding the people in the org into conservatives, imperialists, lefties and so on. I do not like these boxes, especially if the definition of the notions is so unprecise.

Therefore amother approach:

The Spanish Civil War started 70 years ago. Mayn people from abroad where involved in this fight. What would you have done?

[Idaho]

I often use the Spanish Civil War test for politics.

[Slyspy]

I confess a fascination with the Spanish Civil War, specifically with the internal politics of both the Nationalists and the Republicans. The international reaction to the Civil War is also of considerable interest, but of course it is hard not to judge with hindsight the actions of the past.

Edit:
If I had fought in the International Brigades I would certainly have not survived the rise of the communists in the Republican movement.

[Divinus Arma]

Congrats on Senior Membership Franconious! Alas, a rapscallion such as myself shalt never see such an honor.


As for the the topic de jour, I myself confess total ignorance of the topic. Communists vs fascists, is that what this is? Looking in Wikipedia for easy info...


Hmm, after reading... I suppose I would have been a Republic loyalist. They appear to have had a broader social spectrum from Communists to Capitalist Democrats, when compared against the Nationalist who seemed to favor more centralized fascist control.

edit: Pretty rough political test when you consider both ends of the spectrum are ultimately the same thing: Centralized control, one party domination, usually dictatorship, repressive to the point of mass murder, eradication of liberties, planned economies, elevation of the state as greater than the individual. I fail to distinugish the two. It seems politics is not a spectrum, but a circle.

[Aenlic]

I'd like to think that I would have joined Eric Arthur Blair, aka George Orwell, in fighting for the anti-Stalinist, anarchist part of the Republican Army, helping to establish the anarcho-communist experiment in Barcelona. Sadly they were doomed, caught between Franco's Falangist fascists controlling most of industrialized Spain and the Stalinists statist communists controlling most of the Republican forces and the rest of Spain, leaving only Catalonia in the hands of the non-Stalinist, non-fascists. And I doubt I would have survived being shot in the neck, like Blair was.

[Franconicus]

Congrats on Senior Membership Franconious!

Thank you very much!

Alas, a rapscallion such as myself shalt never see such an honor.

You are overmodest. If you can fool the FBI with your new name and stay inconspicuously in the conservative club ...

edit: Pretty rough political test when you consider both ends of the spectrum are ultimately the same thing: Centralized control, one party domination, usually dictatorship, repressive to the point of mass murder, eradication of liberties, planned economies, elevation of the state as greater than the individual. I fail to distinugish the two. It seems politics is not a spectrum, but a circle.

Wise words You passed the test!

[Idaho]

I was a senior member once. They revoked it for some reason ~:D

[Husar]

My choice would be the next plane out of Spain...

[Duke Malcolm]

Yes, I too would leave Spain to its own devices, and take its various enclaves for Britain...

[Vladimir]

I would have wrote a book and made myself famous. Damn Hemmingway stole my thunder!

[scotchedpommes]

The Spanish Civil War has always fascinated me, I have to say for much the
same reasons as Slyspy mentioned. An alliance between what is seen as
the political left and what I think would be considered the centre-right interests
me greatly. I'm surprised this alliance hasn't been brought up in the Backroom
more often. although I assume it would be due to ignorance.

While the position of those on the side of the Fascists may seem to be one
which is difficult to advocate, it should be noted that there were moderates,
and of course the Christian element.


As for the initial question, I would have likely joined the International Brigades
without much consideration of the implications. I feel I might have had more
than a few qualms when the crushing of the Anarchists came about, to
understate it, but would certainly have fought on for the Communists.

[Divinus Arma]

I was a senior member once. They revoked it for some reason ~:D

"With great power comes great responsibility". -Spiderman




Gawain seemed to feel the same way; an obligation of restraint. I doubt I would ever last. Although the staff have been quite kind to me regarding warnings lately.


I have found that the Staff of the Org are alot like carnies: Allowing you to lean out of the ferris wheel just enough to smack your head on something before they yell at you to stop.

[PanzerJaeger]

Thats an easy one. I would fight for the fascists.

If I was lucky my German heritage would place me in the German force sent by Hitler to prop up Franco and test various military things. I would much rather be with the German military than the 2nd rate spanish, regardless of their politics.

[Vladimir]

Thats an easy one. I would fight for the fascists.

If I was lucky my German heritage would place me in the German force sent by Hitler to prop up Franco and test various military things. I would much rather be with the German military than the 2nd rate spanish, regardless of their politics.

I think all you would of need to do was post a and we'd assume that already.

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

I would have fought with the Nationalists, at the time. Looking back at it I wouldn't get involved.

My reasons? I'm a capitalist and and monarchists, I hate Soviet Communisn and at the time Hitler didn't look nearly as bad and in war you take allies were you can.

Thats if I were Spanish, as an Englishman I probably would have stayed away.

[lars573]

The fascists. As they believed in a restored monarchy.

[discovery1]

Probably one the side of the republicans, at least until the Stalinists crush the anarachists in the Republican gov. Then head for France.

[Tribesman]

Mayn people from abroad where involved in this fight. What would you have done?

Sold weaponry .

[Idaho]

I would have fought with the Nationalists, at the time. Looking back at it I wouldn't get involved.

My reasons? I'm a capitalist and and monarchists, I hate Soviet Communisn and at the time Hitler didn't look nearly as bad and in war you take allies were you can.

Thats if I were Spanish, as an Englishman I probably would have stayed away.

Ahh - you were the chap threatening me on that other thread. Turns out you are a fascist too

[Ser Clegane]

How about keeoing personal issues out of this thread?

Thanks

[Idaho]

What's personal? He said he would fight for fascism - so does that not make him a fascist?

[Ser Clegane]

Actually he rather implied that he would fight against communism and not for facism - a bit of a difference I would say.

Responding to a post in the way you did, i.e. trying to carry over dissension from one thread to another, can only interpreted as (ab)using this thread for discussing personal issues between you and Wigferth.

I regard this as trolling and will treat it accordingly if it doesn't stop. If you would like to further discuss this matter, please PM me.

Back on topic please.

[Idaho]

We are talking about a political test. Which side would you fight on in the Spanish Civil war. It is a good political test as it highlights people like Panzer and Wigsoandso as the fascists they are. How can this possibly be personalising, derailing or trolling when it is the very substance of the thread?

[Fragony]

We are talking about a political test. Which side would you fight on in the Spanish Civil war. It is a good political test as it highlights people like Panzer and Wigsoandso as the fascists they are. How can this possibly be personalising, derailing or trolling when it is the very substance of the thread?

Lesser of two evil thingie. What would you rather do, starve to death in the great leap forward or freeze to death in a gulag, or ride the train to Poland to see if how ventilation works? Whatever is said, you see everyone who isn't a veganist with his own vegetable garden and who doesn't dig up corpses for the good cause as facist, such a label from the extreme left means absolutily nothing.

care for some dolphin salad?

[Idaho]

That must have lost something in translation - cos it makes no sense to me.

[rory_20_uk]

I'd have advocated pinching any of Spain's remaining colonies, and trying to stop America bieng such a pompass ass over Japan in China. Far more useful IMO. A greater understanding of Japanese intentions might have averted the Pacific WW2.

[Csargo]

Thats an easy one. I would fight for the fascists.

If I was lucky my German heritage would place me in the German force sent by Hitler to prop up Franco and test various military things. I would much rather be with the German military than the 2nd rate spanish, regardless of their politics.

Same

[Alexander the Pretty Good]

From the extremely little I know about this...

I'd probably be a civilian casualty.

[KafirChobee]

Actually he rather implied that he would fight against communism and not for facism - a bit of a difference I would say.

Responding to a post in the way you did, i.e. trying to carry over dissension from one thread to another, can only interpreted as (ab)using this thread for discussing personal issues between you and Wigferth.

I regard this as trolling and will treat it accordingly if it doesn't stop. If you would like to further discuss this matter, please PM me.

Back on topic please.

As it were, Ser Clegane has his own agenda to run here - so best ignore him unless he actually shows the balls to weigh-in on a possition, Oh, wait ... he does, only suttely and always in favor of the facists. No supprise.

I knew two men that survived this fiascal, an uncle and a friends father. Both were sorta mercenariaries. My Great-uncle had run off to France in 1914 (he was 17), and my friend's Dad had served with Pancho Via (ms) - and joined the foreign legion (musta been suicidal), etc.

Regardless, there are those willing to support their beliefs ... or those that conform to them, if paid well enough to do so. Then there are those willing to allow others to determine what is right as long as it does not affect their next pay check. Then there are those willing to accept anything their government says as long as it does not affect their next paycheck. then there are those that are willing to have others die for their causes.

In an instant, I would have have gone to Spain to fight against Fascism. My Uncle did out of instinct. My friend's Dad, did it for Money ... but, atleast he chose the right side.

Off subject: Read an article. or two. or five; in the last weeks that proposed that Americans are in fact leaning toward authortarian rule. Makes life so much simpler - not having to think. I, for one, tend to believe it.

[AntiochusIII]

As it were, Ser Clegane has his own agenda to run here - so best ignore him unless he actually shows the balls to weigh-in on a possition, Oh, wait ... he does, only suttely and always in favor of the facists. No supprise.

Ser Clegane does not strike me at being in any way supportive of the fascists by asking for civility in this thread.

Heck, I've been avoiding the Backroom lately with all the exasperating partisanship going on: the blind loyalty to established entities without concern for actual issues, the monotony of the argumentative posts, the broad painting, and blind hatred, of "the enemy," the claims that the presses are supporting "the enemy" only, etc. Exasperating! Imaimashii!

It is indeed quite disturbing that people would choose to support the fascists so willingly though; the answers of the majority of those who choose the "Republican" side come with a disclaimer against the communist takeover.

Sold weaponry .

Quite very much the most honest and powerful answer in this thread, even with the sarcasm included.


As for me, I'd be leading the French armies crashing down the Pyrenees, En la Defensa de la Democracia!

The test is superlative and, quite frankly, very much flawed anyway. The result would be allowing the partisans to paint carlists as falangists, social democrats and anarcho-syndicalists as Stalinists, and so on and so forth. Nice try.