THE SPANISH CIVIL WAR

MUYHISTORIA

Spain: La batalla del  Ebro y otros frentes de la Guerra Civil espanola.

Novelists like: Ernest Hemingway, Andre Malraux, George Orwell, Nordahl Grieg, Antoine de Saint-Exupery and above all: Photo journalists like Gerda Taro and Robert Capa were the sources for my private interest in studying of the Spanish Civil War. I take it for granted that the works of the persons mentioned are among those few who make you interest in the Spanish Civil War in year 2017? Because of my interest in history I bought a Spanish paper during my stay in Albir, Spain in February. The main content of the paper was dedicated to information about the Spanish Civil War. The paper is a good one for those of us who have an interest in history. To my surprise I see that information about the war must have been selected for reasons unknown to me. What about the activities made by the French novelist Andre Malraux? What about facts about the famous ” Espana squadron ”?I recall photos of Andre Malraux in front of an aircraft- the French bomber ” Potez 540”.

Andre Malraux was not a professional pilot. He was appointed Lieutenant Colonel for the famous ” Escadrille Andre Malraux” even if he had no military education or any qualification in running an air force. No. But he made the whole world know about the war. My interest for the war was made while reading his book ” The Hope ”( L’Espoir) and viewing his film about the war, ” L’Espoir”. ” For whom the bell tolls” by Ernest Hemingway is another book which made me aware of the conflict in Spain.

What about the Internationale Brigades and facts about the contribution from Norway and Sweden and Denmark? The Norwegian broadcasting reporter, Yngvar Ustvedt, wrote a  book about the Norwegians who participated in the war: ” Arbeidere under våpen. Norske frivillige i den spanske borgerkrigen”. The book was published in 1975. A report about the battle of Ebro is a part of the book.  

Olaf Johansen from the city of Bergen, Odd Olsen from the city ofTrondheim, Bjarne Jensen from the city of Tønsberg, Einar Pettersen from the county, Østfold, Rolf Eriksen from the city of  Oslo and Rudolf Paulsen from the city of Narvik were killed during the battle of Ebro. I do not how many from Sweden who were  died, but Karl Ernstedt was killed.  About 300 Norwegians and about 600 from Sweden  participated in the war.

Novelists who supported the fascists in Spain have been forgotten or not mentioned due to reasons unknown to me?What about: The British novelist, Evelyn Waugh, the Americans: Gertrude Stein and Ezra Pound?

The paper has also dedicted two pages for those who are interested in military history. Guns, aircrafts, tanks, helmets and military equipments used during the war are presented at page 42 and 43. The different aircrafts used by ” Escarille Andre Malraux” are missing. No photos or drawings of the French aircraft , ” Potez 540” , which was used in the fim ” L’Espoir”. Sorry.

I am happy observing that the works of Robert Capa and Gerda Taro are presented in the paper.