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Rated 2 out of 5 by dennis1947 from Mediocre at Best I just finished this course. I had much higher expectations given its star rating. The professor read every lecture standing in the same position. After a while I found the lectures tedious and kept hoping the next lecture would capture my interest, it never happened. I have purchased over 120 courses and rarely give a bad review. This is one of those exceptions. It's much better to listen to this course as an audio since this new format is weak, at best. The content is hard to follow since the professor uses far too many people to illustrate or prove her point. If this course were more succinct, i.e., 12 lectures, I think it would be much tighter and not so burdensome.

Date published: 2023-09-27

Rated 5 out of 5 by DonMDPhD from Well-Balanced Presentation Modern warfare isn't exactly my favorite topic. I remember my teacher rushing through the Spanish Civil War in my high school social studies class almost 60 years ago. Interesting it was not. So, when I saw Dr. Radcliff's course pop onto Wonderium, I passed it by. But every now and then I will watch a course in which I have no interest and this one fit the bill. And honestly, the only reason I chose this course was because it was based upon Dr. Radcliff's doctoral dissertation. Years ago, I did the same thing; so what the heck, let's give it a try. And I was quite happy I did. Her delivery was one of a seasoned professor extremely well-versed in her subject--well-modulated voice and an easy delivery of material. In short, a joy to listen to. I was impressed with her balanced approach to the subject. She approached each side based on its merits--or de-merits, as the case may be. She didn't try to sway us to one side or the other but gave us abundant information that would enable us to come to our own conclusions. I was perplexed by, then viewed as a dark comedy, the contradictions on both sides. The Republicans, the democratically elected government, now sleeping with the Communists and the Nationalists promising to rid the people of their bourgeois, oppressive masters while neglecting to mention that fascist, oppressive masters would replace them. The thing that most interested me was the Spanish Civil War effectively serving as a testing ground for newly devised Nazi tactics which would later be used on other countries as well. So, Adolph and the gang got a jump start on the allied forces, which begs the question: if the rest of the world wasn't in isolationist mode and had come to the aid of the Republican side, would Germany have been so well-prepared for war? We'll never know.

Date published: 2023-09-17

Rated 5 out of 5 by kim kemal from Comprehensive and academic All the angles are covered, the presenter has a good voice, excellent class. Tough topic but taking it in small chunks allowed me to dig deep without being overwhelmed - and the subject of how you heal from a war when both sides want to spin a different story.

Date published: 2023-08-31

Rated 5 out of 5 by DaGeek from Excellent Presentation of a Troubled Time in Spain I first became interested in the Spanish Civil when I read Hemingway’s "For Whom the Bell Tolls" years ago. When I reread this book a few years ago that desired was reinforced. Then I watched the Wondrium Course, "George Orwell: A Sage for Seasons" (I highly recommend this course) and discovered that Orwell had fought on the Republican side of this conflict, my interest was further stoked. Many years I used a telenovela, "Distinos", designed to teach Spanish on my journey of learning Spanish. The initial conflict of the drama starts in the Spanish Civil war. I had been looking for a good book on the subject, off and on for a while now, then this popped up Wondrium. It absolutely fit the bill. The professor, Pamela Radcliff, is very knowledgeable. She organized the material a manner that made it easy to follow. She is not the most animated of speakers, but she does a good job and she really knows the material. What a sad time this was for Spain, both during the Civil War and during the aftermath of Franco’s dictatorship. Ms. Radcliff gives and even handed, scholarly assessment of all sides and of the multitude of parties and factions vying to control and change the direction of Spain. She discusses the failures of the French and English in staying out of this war, thus giving a green light the German and Italian Fascist regimes to aid Franco. It still amazes me that humans can be so cruel to each. And when it is basically brother fighting brother… oh well. I do have a minor complaint, and this complaint to comes down to the directors/producers of Wondrium. Ms. Radcliff did not seem to know what to do with her hands; I got to calling them dancing jazz hands. Since this was more a talking head presentation rather than their usual style of having the presenter bounce from one side of the carpet to the other, after a while her hands were a bit annoying. I found myself listening more than watching. The director should have been on top of this. All in all though an excellent presentation of the Spanish Civil War, and if you have an interest in 20th century history I highly recommend it.

Date published: 2023-08-31

Rated 5 out of 5 by cpr_norcal from Extremely Well-Presented and Very Relevant Professor Radcliffe does a wonderful job of illuminating this incredibly sad episode of history. I had no real understanding of the Spanish Civil War before taking this course. I found it to be extremely well designed and very moving. She is an excellent speaker with a very measured and thoughtful delivery. The history covered is extremely relevant. I wish this course would be viewed by every member of the US Congress, and anyone else thinking violence is the right way to address our culture wars.

Date published: 2023-08-26

Rated 5 out of 5 by pat2023 from A complex story This course really helped me understand better the complex story of the Spanish Civil War. It focuses on all "sides" but finishes with the reality that "truth" goes beyond the stacking up of facts and must, ultimately, use basic personal values to come to conclusions about the rights and wrongs of events. Well done.

Date published: 2023-08-25

Rated 5 out of 5 by Ruodrik from Great Topic that deserves to be looked at While any one who studies WWII this is an nice topic and often relative to that conflict the real history is what happen after WWII. While I would say to much was take with the before and during and only a few lectures for the Cold War this is exactly what I love about this. Unique and very relevant topic to not only WWII, Cold War but Spanish history in a whole. This is often a lost part of modern history and the professor was excellent and the information was amazing. PLEASE DO MORE LONG (12+ LECTURES) on topics all thru all world history that do not get this attention. Thanks

Date published: 2023-08-24

Rated 3 out of 5 by Kayakpaddler from Interesting Topic, but dry presentation At the end of listening to this lecture series, I feel far more informed about the causes and results of the Spanish Civil War. But it was a struggle to get to the end. The presentation was monotone and lacked excitement. That said, the presenter knew her topic and provided an excellent, in-depth review. If you want to know the topic, go ahead and listen. If you want to be entertained, move on to a different title.

Date published: 2023-08-13

Overview

How the Spanish Civil War Became Europe’s Battlefield takes you to the front line and introduces you to the competing coalitions on each side to look at the issues of a perennially confounding military and social history. Not only did the Spanish Civil War foreshadow the global conflagration to come, but it also had its roots in the modern era’s central divides: urban versus rural, religion versus secularization, rich versus poor, progress versus tradition. Taught by Professor Pamela Radcliff of the University of California, San Diego, these 24 scintillating lectures survey the aspects of an endlessly multifaceted history.

About

Pamela B. Radcliff

The Spanish Civil War shared the same ideological fault line that fractured the first half of the 20th century. It represented a contest between left-wing revolution, liberal democracy, and authoritarianism or fascism.

ALMA MATER

Columbia University

INSTITUTION

University of California, San Diego

Pamela B. Radcliff is a Professor of History at the University of California, San Diego. She received her PhD in History from Columbia University. Her dissertation on the origins of the Spanish Civil War later became her first book, From Mobilization to Civil War. Her other books on Spanish history are Modern Spain: 1808 to the Present and Making Democratic Citizens in Spain. She also coedited Constructing Spanish Womanhood and has received teaching awards for undergraduate and graduate instruction.

By This Professor

How the Spanish Civil War Became Europe’s Battlefield

Trailer

01: The Spanish Civil War in a European Context

Begin with an examination of the unique nature of the Spanish Civil War, within a context of European civil and world wars. Often overshadowed by World War II, Spain experienced a bloody and total war from 1936 to 1939—a prelude to the global violence on the horizon.

28 min

02: Two Spains? Long-Term Origins of War

The long-term structural divisions that led to the Spanish Civil War give the appearance of two countries existing side by side. Here, explore the divides in Spanish geography, agriculture, economics, society, and religion. Consider how these divisions are more complex than a simple narrative of “Two Spains.”

29 min

03: The Second Republic: Short-Term Origins of War

Delve into the growing political polarization that occurred in Spain’s Second Republic era from 1931 to 1936. As power swung back and forth between the left and the right, neither side could gain clear majority support. This polarization, combined with the messy process of reform, transformed Spain into a powder keg.

33 min

04: The Opening Act: 1936’s Military Coup

By 1936, tensions between the conservative Monarchists and the liberal Republican government came to a head. General Francisco Franco and other military leaders attempted to overthrow the government. Although the coup attempt partially failed, it succeeded in enough places to launch a full-on civil war.

28 min

05: A Hot Summer: The War’s First Months

After the failed military coup, the summer of 1936 became the most violent and lawless period of the Spanish Civil War, with Nationalists and Republican coalitions committing atrocities against alleged enemies and civilians alike. From a national terror campaign to the desecration of churches and religious leaders, this time period saw great bloodshed.

31 min

06: The Two Sides: Nationalists and Republicans

Who were the combatants on each side of the civil war? In this lecture, you will survey the diversity of two coalitions: the Nationalists, Catholics, and fascists on one side and Popular Front republicans, socialists, anarchists, and even communists on the other side. Reflect on what political platforms held each coalition together.

29 min

07: Republican Revolution and Local Power

Continue your study of the Republican side with a deep dive into the revolutionary workers’ groups and their goals. While the Nationalists were using guerilla tactics in an attempt to overthrow the government, decentralized Republican forces used local power to try to create a socialist workers utopia—to mixed results. Learn about the lofty goals and the destructive results from these efforts.

31 min

08: Rebuilding a Fractured Republican State

By the fall of 1936, the war entered a new phase as the Republican government attempted to centralize authority and create a more disciplined war effort, in a direct challenge to the local revolutionary groups. Review some of the key challenges on the left, including ideological divisions and regional power centers that were reluctant to cede their autonomy.

30 min

09: Francisco Franco Forms a Nationalist State

Shift your attention to the Nationalist side, which had consolidated authority under General Francisco Franco, “el caudillo” (“the leader”). Professor Radcliff introduces you to Franco and his military history, and then she walks through his gradual and unlikely ascent to power during the war. Finally, you will consider how Franco’s leadership compared with that of fascist leaders.

32 min

10: Women in the War: Workers, Nurses, Soldiers

Wars may be fought over political ideology, but they involve everyday people. In this lecture, you will examine the critical role of women in the Spanish Civil War. On both sides of the conflict, women took up jobs in traditionally male industries and occupied novel public and private roles. Meet some of the women who made an impact in this war.

29 min

11: Western Powers Agree to Nonintervention

The Spanish Civil War was a local conflict on the margins of Europe, yet it had enormous repercussions on the international stage. In this lecture, you will learn about the degree to which foreign intervention (or non-intervention) affected the course of the war—and why so many western powers remained neutral.

28 min

12: The USSR and Mexico Aid the Republic

Although many western powers remained neutral, the Republican government received support from the USSR and Mexico. To this day, scholars debate about the low quality of support the Soviets provided and how much it disadvantaged the Republican side. Professor Radcliff weighs this support against what the Nationalists received from fascist countries.

27 min

13: International Brigades Join the Civil War

One of the most important features of the internationalization of the war was the thousands of volunteers in the international brigades that traveled to Spain to join the fight. These groups included Communist party members and others, all answering the call to take up an anti-fascist cause. The American volunteers were famously memorialized by Hemingway in his novel For Whom the Bell Tolls.

28 min

14: The Fascist Powers Aid the Nationalists

International aid helped the Nationalists as much, if not more, than the Republicans. From loans and foreign aid to weapons and soldiers, learn about the support for the Nationalist cause from Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany. Then, take a look at how Franco shifted course after it was clear the Axis powers would lose World War II.

27 min

15: Vatican and Church in Spain’s Religious War

In many ways, the Spanish Civil War was a religious war over the relationship between the state and Catholicism. Due to a combination of anti-clerical violence from extremists in the Republican coalition and a long affiliation with conservative politics, the Church found itself aligned with the Nationalists. Dive into the Vatican’s role in the war, active or otherwise.

28 min

16: The Propaganda War in a Divided Spain

Propaganda in the form of poetry, plays, paintings, and film played a powerful role in all wars of the 20th century. Here, Professor Radcliff looks at the international propaganda surrounding the Spanish Civil War—including Pablo Picasso’s famous masterpiece, Guernica.

30 min

17: Military Campaigns in the Spanish Civil War

The military history of the Spanish Civil War has always taken a back seat to the political drama, but it was on the battlefield that the Nationalists won and the Republicans lost the war. Although it is difficult to pinpoint an exact turning point, this lecture outlines the major battles and turning points of the war.

29 min

18: Guernica to Madrid: The Urban Battlefield

One of the major divides in the Spanish Civil War was between urban and rural cultures. This divide played out on the battlefield as well, with urban warfare, and particularly bombing of civilian populations, representing a novel aspect of the war. From Guernica to Madrid to Barcelona, discover the lessons from the war’s urban battlefields.

27 min

19: The War as Soldiers Experienced It

Here, Professor Radcliff turns from battles to the soldiers who fought them. Because neither side received mass enlistment for their cause, the Republican and Nationalist armies each relied on conscription—and suffered from low morale as the brutal war dragged on. Get an up-close look at the everyday experience of soldiers who fought and died in the war.

29 min

20: How the Nationalists Organized for Victory

At the start of the war, the Nationalists were an ad hoc confederation of alliances. Over three years, they organized to create an institutional structure, stable financial resources, and a logistics operation that ultimately won the war. Learn about the Nationalist political structure as they formed a functional government.

28 min

21: How the Republic Organized for the Long War

While the Nationalists consolidated and expanded their political power, the Republican side struggled with internal divisions and an increasingly dire military situation. Watch as the Republican government lost its industrial and material advantages in what would become a pivotal moment in Spanish history.

30 min

22: Repression on the Two Sides

The atrocities of the Spanish Civil War began with the bloody summer of 1936 and continued with the creation of concentration camps on both sides. While debates about the number of victims on each side continues today, most scholars agree the Nationalists were more brutally repressive—a fact that was hidden from the Spanish public for many years.

33 min

23: The New Regime and the Aftermath of the War

After three years of devastating violence, the formal conflict ended with General Franco capturing and disarming the Republican Army. The aftermath of the war included mass executions and arrests, as well as hundreds of thousands of refugees and ongoing guerilla warfare. Follow these refugees and reflect on the traumas of the post-war period.

28 min

24: The Spanish Memory Wars

The ghosts of the Spanish Civil War are still with us today—and are being debated as fiercely as ever. As you will learn in this final lecture, the war’s history remains a divisive topic in Spain, and beyond. The course concludes with an overview of the so-called “memory wars” and the competing narratives about Spain’s historical trajectory.

32 min