'Interbrigadisten vor Teruel' (International Brigades at Teruel) by Gerhard Kurt Müller  1966-67. Dresden, NewMastersGallery. Town+looming sky behind reminds me of El Greco's view of Toledo. Criticised at time in GDR for unheroic portrayal of fighters. The feel of cold is patent

Republican troops at Battle of Teruel moving against Francoist positions.
Another image from excellent 'El General Invierno en la Batalla de Teruel' by Vicente Aupí, book on effect of freezing weather on possibly the most important battle of the war. Photo: Reina Sofia collection

NEW EPISODE: 'Sánchez Is Staying!!!'

In a move straight out of his favourite TV show Baron Noir, Sánchez orchestrated another theatrical gesture or 'golpe de efecto' so as to rally the Left and regain the initiative while confronting right-wing smears.

open.spotify.com/episode/4XdRyc…

Lovely rainy day in a wet week in Barcelona. Happy trees and frogs in the parks and perfect for writing snug at home with cups of tea and a full packet of Pims, as the Iberian Jaffa cake is called.

El Festival del Solidarity Park arriba a Barcelona! (el concert final) Programa complet - solidaritypark.com/2024/04/08/fes…

darcymoore.net/2024/04/29/orw…
Orwell à Paris: Dans la dèche avec le capitaine russe, Editions Exils, 2024 by Duncan Roberts is a complete treat for #Orwell devotees and provides much-needed original research materials for biographers and scholars to consider. Congratulations Duncan!

Víctims of the first aerial bombing of Barcelona in Poble-sec on 16/3/1937. Rushing down C/Creu dels Molers. I think father and son. Photo by Carlos Pérez de Rozas.
All too bloody familiar.

In 1938, the Franco regime banned publication+import of Darwin's Origin of the Species. Wasn't republished until 1966.
One example of huge progressive cultural edifice that had developed in Spain since lateC19th that was crushed.
How can Spain not still be paying for this today?

Fascism pays in Spain is the message EL MUNDO has gone for this weekend, with a full 2-page spread on the 50th birthday of Franco's great-grandson. With the headline

'The work of my great-grandfather Franco is still alive and well. His achievements continue to benefit us.'

George Orwell returned to Barcelona on leave from Aragón front this evening, 26 April 1937. Eileen Blair his wife wrote he “arrived completely ragged, almost barefoot, a little lousy, dark brown and looking very well. In the previous 12 hours in trains consuming anis+muscatel'

At around 1630 today on 26 April 1937, the Nazi Condor Legion with never admitted support of General Franco began its murderous destruction of the Basque town of Gernika. This is a cutting from The Times of the famous article by George Steer denouncing the atrocity the next day

Nick Lloyd Hurst Publishers It arrived the next day. Wow!