I have learnt to embrace change, but it took a lot of cajoling
Alt: I don't, most of the time; you would say that, his lot were bog mates with Franco, innit; not according to the Nazis, no.

Alt2: They're enormously good fun as long as you can give them back once they become wearisome vs You can't do that if they're your own
(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Wed 13 Apr 2011, 10:37, 1 reply, 15 years ago)

They weren't friends with Franco, no
Franco didn't participate in the WWII and, for much that I don't like him, he wasn't racist. He'd kill you regardless of your race if you were against him.
(Aberracion Life's getting very complicated, but a lot of fun., Wed 13 Apr 2011, 10:39, Reply)

I know, I was being a facetious twat
Apologies. I believe the Nazis did lend support to Franco during the civil war of 1933-36 though didn't they?
(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Wed 13 Apr 2011, 10:41, Reply)

The bastards
Bombed Guernica. First time they tried Blitzkrieg I beleieve.
(Set your faces to Stunned Bigly, Wed 13 Apr 2011, 10:45, Reply)

They trialled the Stuka divebombers there.
Franco strung Hitler along and then refused to join him. Smart guy, albeit an utter cunt.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Wed 13 Apr 2011, 10:46, Reply)

Knew I could rely on you
One of the only things I know about Hitler other than cold historical fact is that he said "The distance between genius and insanity is measured only by success". Which, although basically just another way of saying "History is written by the winners", is a very salient point.

But yeah, cunt.
(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Wed 13 Apr 2011, 10:50, Reply)

I believe most of the states participating in the civil war were more interested in testing new kit and tactics
than they were in the outcome of the fighting.
(wellgroomedwookiee is a filthy-minded hobgoblin, Wed 13 Apr 2011, 10:48, Reply)

I believe I can fly.

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Wed 13 Apr 2011, 10:52, Reply)

I believe the children are our future.

(Bazongaloid, Wed 13 Apr 2011, 10:55, Reply)

I believe in a thing called love

( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Wed 13 Apr 2011, 10:56, Reply)

Teach them well (ie not in Tower Hamlets)....

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Wed 13 Apr 2011, 11:07, Reply)

Paedo.

(wellgroomedwookiee is a filthy-minded hobgoblin, Wed 13 Apr 2011, 10:57, Reply)

*shrugs*

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Wed 13 Apr 2011, 11:00, Reply)

He would need to have access to a child for that to be true ...

(Bazongaloid, Wed 13 Apr 2011, 11:08, Reply)

No, they didn't
they met several times and both sides made promises of "well, if you need me, I'm here" but never got properly involved. Both sides as well sent volunteers to fight on the other's war, but that didn't count as a political decision, just volunteers, you see?
(Aberracion Life's getting very complicated, but a lot of fun., Wed 13 Apr 2011, 10:54, Reply)

I'm not sure that counts as abstention
Surely in a totalitarian state any military officer can be assumed as willing and "volunteered". I do see your point but would argue that if equipment and transportation was provided for said volunteers to participate in another country's war it counts as lending support.
(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Wed 13 Apr 2011, 10:57, Reply)

I suppose so
But Spain doesn't count as participating on the war. We had no money, so I'm prety sure that the Germans paid for everything, and just took the people. And we needed the army at home, to keep the rebelious calm, so I really believe they were volunteers.
(Aberracion Life's getting very complicated, but a lot of fun., Wed 13 Apr 2011, 11:04, Reply)

In that respect I'm happier to accept you are probably correct
Germany was certainly not lacking manpower
(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Wed 13 Apr 2011, 11:07, Reply)

What they were lacking in was fuel and ammunition.
They had fuck all.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Wed 13 Apr 2011, 11:17, Reply)

Blue Division

( Light In Chains maker of the ikea sofa, Wed 13 Apr 2011, 10:43, Reply)

They were a bunch of mentals.
When given the chance to be withdrawn from fighting the soviets, they decided to stay on till ultimate victory.
( Bartleby A dead man on vacation, Wed 13 Apr 2011, 10:46, Reply)

They were there with Franco's approval, as well as a number of Spanish who joined other German Units again with Spanish approval
Not to mention Spains agreement for the Germans to have land access to Gibraltar for any possible assaults.
( Light In Chains maker of the ikea sofa, Wed 13 Apr 2011, 10:48, Reply)

As I said above
it was a group of volunteer (one of my best friend's grandpa was there). Franco did approve it, but he said as well that we had just finished our own war and weren't having another. They agreed a lot of stuff, Germans and Spaninsh, but it never happened.
(Aberracion Life's getting very complicated, but a lot of fun., Wed 13 Apr 2011, 10:56, Reply)

There's volunteering, and there's being 'lent' an entire airforce in the shape of the Condor Legion
It's not difficult to look beyond that veil to the reality that Germany directly intervened in the Spanish Civil War
( Light In Chains maker of the ikea sofa, Wed 13 Apr 2011, 11:00, Reply)

Have you got a history degree or are you just an enthusiastic 'fan'?

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Wed 13 Apr 2011, 11:01, Reply)

I managed to bumble my way through a law and ancient history degree
So I suppose that makes me fanbwoi, it's a fascinating period of history WW1 and WW2 and the interwar period.
( Light In Chains maker of the ikea sofa, Wed 13 Apr 2011, 11:06, Reply)

It certainly is.

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Wed 13 Apr 2011, 11:08, Reply)

it's the only period I ever really studied
and I still can't remember anything much other than a few bits from Clause 231 of the Treaty of Versailles.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Wed 13 Apr 2011, 11:08, Reply)

Along with Italy and the Soviet Union.

( Bartleby A dead man on vacation, Wed 13 Apr 2011, 11:02, Reply)

As other countries did?
I don't know your problem. Everytime there's a civil war, everybody tries to get in and make the most of it.
(Aberracion Life's getting very complicated, but a lot of fun., Wed 13 Apr 2011, 11:05, Reply)

Isn't a civil war one where you bring flowers and wear napkins?
You mean an uncivil war.
( Bartleby A dead man on vacation, Wed 13 Apr 2011, 11:07, Reply)

MY PROBLEM IS I'M HUNGRY AND HAVE STARTED THINKING THE INEVITABLE
WHAT'S FOR LUNCH ?!?!
( Light In Chains maker of the ikea sofa, Wed 13 Apr 2011, 11:08, Reply)

I fancy tapas, with all this Spanish talk.

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Wed 13 Apr 2011, 11:11, Reply)

NOMNOMNOM

( Light In Chains maker of the ikea sofa, Wed 13 Apr 2011, 11:15, Reply)

Britain would NEVER meddle in another country's internal affairs or political strife
Nuh-uh. No way.
(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Wed 13 Apr 2011, 11:11, Reply)