"The Killer Priests of the Spanish Civil War" Topic

"From 1936 through 1939, the Nationalist rebels warred against the government of the Second Republic of Spain. During the war, Francisco Franco ascended above other Nationalist generals and was recognized by Nationalist Spain — and fascist Germany and Italy — as the undisputed Generalissimo of Spain. In March 1939, the Republic of Spain surrendered to the Nationalists, ushering in Francisco Franco's fascist dictatorial regime.

By no means was the Spanish Civil War a fight of gentlemen — if war can ever be pure and honorable. Quite the opposite, the Spanish Civil War was filled with atrocities on both the Republican and Nationalist sides, rivaling the horrors of World War II. Both sides used torture, humiliation, and execution during the war, and the Franco Regime continued to execute dissidents well after the war was over; many mass graves are just now being uncovered.

Surprisingly, the Spanish Civil War turned Catholic laymen and priests into executioners and the executed. They cheered on the Nationalist rebels and were killed by Republican forces. The hands of priests were covered with blood — either their own or their enemy's…"
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Amicalement
Armand

A curious take on the issue from my perspective. It was repression against the Catholics that was the final straw in sparking the war. The article admits that then lists a handful of priests that participated in violence

What repression against the Catholics?!

those ones for example:

Chouan….Chouan….If at least you have read any book on the subject … how do you think to ask that?

Amicalement
Armand

ITALWARS seems to have a problem with the concept of chronology. The assertion was that the Republic was repressing the church which was a cause for the rising:
"It was repression against the Catholics that was the final straw in sparking the war."

That the church was attacked after the rising because of the support of the church for the rebellion is true, but how is that evidence for the church being repressed before the rising?

Tango01, ".If at least you have read any book on the subject … how do you think to ask that?"

Because there is no evidence at all that catholics were repressed by the newly elected government. As you can see, the "evidence" presented here is all from after the rising….. How can this be evidence of repression pre-rising?

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i spare you an ammount of Spanish sources….

You offer me propaganda from the church as evidence! Really? In any case, where does it actually discuss "repression against the Catholics"? The Republic dissolved the Jesuits and expropriated property from the church. But this wasn't the Republican government of 1936, but the Republic of the Right of 1932 and 1933.

As the article suggests:
"the Jesuits were dissolved in January 1932; in May 1933 a law against ecclesiastical property deprived the Church of all her possessions, which were handed over to civil authorities; a law was passed against the teaching of religion in schools, and the clergy was forbidden to teach"

How is any of this "repression against the Catholics"? The church still had immense wealth, immense power and influence, and nobody was being repressed or punished for being a catholic.

Note that the "historian" seems to think that Franco killing priests was excusable whilst "the Reds" killing priests was an atrocity.

So, "when the nationalist troops entered Bilbao, 16 priests were shot, not because they were priests, but for political reasons with other people. "
That's alright then…..

In any case, ITALWARS, how is the "evidence" from AFTER the military rebellion against the legitimate government of any relevance?
Must try harder…..

Try this for a view rather different to that of ITALWARS link

the incredible if not amusing thing if it in was'nt in fact only repulsive is that, today's, there is still need to defend the right side (nationalists that somebody still call rebels) from the illegal, terrorist, evil one which was the Republicans..i would not even call it Republic..because it have the same unpleasant feeling when i read todays ISIS been called "State"….from evidences that we can collect today certainly Franco troops commited grave crimes but there is certainly nothing to compare to the Red Gvt which was criminal in his own political doctrine and agenda..the sad truth is that a Gvt like the one staged illegaly trough intimidations and agressions by the Comintern, the so called "Republica", nowdays would have been wiped out by an allied coalition..i must stress that it also said a lot about the uselessness of organisations like the League of Nations which did'nt say a word vs the criminal state set up by the Republic…and the echo of the October Revolution was'nt so far..facilitating in this way the intervention on what you call "rebels"….and if Franco rule was , as somebody call a "Dictature" and not an autoritarian régime, why after the war nobody acted against it? why opponent of this supposed to be evil régime , excep a very few exceptions, didnt enjoy any international recognition or substantial aid?..certainly the barbarious assassination of Carrero Blanco did'nt help….and , finally, why main opponents of this supposed to be dictature, the Basques armed opponents were classified, in western world , as terrorists and not freedom fighters….nothing vs you Chouan i also like your nick name and some of your postings, but truth and freedom of expression, including in this forum, will not be supressed by gang intimidation and insults ….

Fascist apologia on a toy soldier site. Nice.

certainly YES..the support to the so called Republica ..with all the persecutions, murders, liquidation of possible adversaires BEFORE and during the Civil War …is a fascist apologia if not worst..nothing new in a Toy soldier or wargame milieu..have you read the embarassing Osprey Elite on International Brigades..including the almost useless plats that sere only as a screen for the fascist propaganda text? whose side you are Weasel?

What "side" am I on in a conflict that ended 40 years before I was born?

Fair to say we just want to roll dice. It was a tragic era in history but a fantastic setting for gamers.

Thanks Italwars!

Do not let the name calling and labeling get to you.

Just fell in here by chance and….man, am I disappointed. If I ever end up being as apparently narrow minded and blind to historical truth as a certain bloke on here, well, I would have to admit to being in a very, very dark place.

Education: That beacon of hope which continuously passes certain people by in an age where there are really no excuses to remain culturally blind.

No two ways about it, let's convince all countries to raise their secular educational budget by a further 10%!