The Spanish Civil War has been called the quintessential expression of violent ideological confrontation in 1930s Europe. Despite this reputation, researchers have neglected to properly explore the Spanish experience in the context of the history of twentieth-century warfare. To fill this gap, “If You Tolerate This . . . ”  brings together an international group of scholars to address the Spanish Civil War’s role in the development of total war.

Examining such topics as military violence, the experience of war, and the culture of war, this anthology traces how the differentiation between civilian and military sectors crumbled with the onset of civil war. Individual memory and collective identity in Spain, the authors argue, became synonymous with mass killing and mass dying. Offering a unique perspective on one of European history’s most fraught events, this volume will be necessary reading for students and scholars of twentieth-century Spain and military history.

 

Martin Baumeister holds the chair in contemporary European history at the University of Munich.
Stefanie Schüler-Springorum is director of the Institute for German-Jewish History and a lecturer at Hamburg University.