By Bernard Ganley
7 March 2009

The Megagame of the Spanish Civil War
The War in Spain between 1936-39 is often seen as the dress rehearsal of the Second World War, a war between Left and Right, before the full horrors of the wars of the Great Dictators took place.

Alternatively, the war can be put in its context of a Spain in increasing political and economic turmoil in the twenties and early thirties, with appallingly weak and corrupt forces of moderation in which the extremists of Radicalism and Reaction prospered. Largely abandoned by the western powers and the League of Nations Spain descended into a brutal and fractious civil war in which the Fascists eventually triumphed.

The game will focus on the conflict between and within the Military-Fascist-Monarchists who formed the Nationalists and the Republicans who were made up of Radical-Anarchist-Socialist &Communist factions. There will also be roles for 1-2 players for each of the 4 "Amigos": Italy, Germany, Western Democracies and Soviet Russia who could provide manpower, equipment, staff and political ideology to make this for them a war by proxy.

The game will initially consist of a planning stage for the coup for the Nationalists during which the Republicans pass legislation to gain popular support. This will then be followed by the coup and hourly seasonal turns during which military campaigning will take place. The system would include features such as recruitment, equipment, political control and operational level military decision making.

As befits civil war of the twentieth century a team of 2-3 representing the Fourth Estate, the gentlemen of the press, is also available for the budding Hemingway's or Orwell's amongst you.

ROLES
> Republican Political
> Republican Military
> Nationalist Political
> Nationalist Military
> Interventionists: Italy, Germany, Western Democracies, Soviet Union
> International Press
> Umpire