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Orwell and his Fight for Democracy in Spain
Thursday, October 13, 2022 @ 8:59 PM

Even though he was an Englishman, famed author George Orwell made it a point to head to Spain during the Spanish Civil War in order to join the fight for democracy, mainly out of idealism. Today, his path through one portion of the war is remembered by a trail of recreated fortifications.

Orwell joined the fighting of the Spanish Civil War in 1936, despite the reasoned advice of his fellow author, Henry Miller. Despite being a volunteer, Orwell wanted to head to the front lines of the war, but it was not in the cards. Instead, he was sent, with a regiment to the region of Aragon, where the fighting was rather light. There he didn't see much action, but he did encounter a great deal of hardship among the soldiers, including hunger, terrible living conditions, and a lack of supplies in general. While his initial visit was uneventful, he would return to Aragon later and be shot in the neck. He survived and managed to escape Spain, and his ordeal would go on to inform his book.

 

 

Despite a general agreement among many in Spain to let the events of the civil war remain in the past, many of the trenches and fortifications where Orwell spent time have been methodically recreated today. The trenches and bunkers along what is now called the George Orwell Route look as though they have never even been touched by time, much less war. Visitors can now walk the same hilltop path that was not only visited by Orwell, but by countless soldiers who took part in the tragic war. 

The Spanish Civil War may not be a popular subject among many, but thanks to Orwell's high-profile visit, this battlefield will not be forgotten any time soon. 

 

The Orwell Route Website

 

              

Ruta Orwell



Like 2




5 Comments


Stinkey said:
Saturday, October 15, 2022 @ 8:20 AM

Unfortunately the trenches don't truly show the despair and pain those people must have felt? It makes me wonder if the trenches from the first world War should have been preserved too? Now we are seeing trenches being used once again in the Ukraine 🇺🇦
War seems to be intent on staying with us?


Tbone said:
Saturday, October 15, 2022 @ 1:37 PM

I guess the facts of the so-called fight for democracy, which was actually a Soviet communist and atheist funded enterprise versus traditional nationalism don't matter anymore? Probably best symbolized by the murders of priests, nuns and the destruction of churches by the thousands across Spain by the atheist Communists. Not to mention the tens of thousands that were tortured and murdered by them as well! This was a civil war. And war is bad, but it takes 2 sides. Stop the revisionist history!


Lambo said:
Saturday, October 15, 2022 @ 5:24 PM

Revisionist history? You either forget or ignore the fact that Franco led a fascist revolt against the democratically elected government of Spain and subsequently ruled Spain by fascist dictatorship for 36 years, killing and interning thousands upon thousands of Spanish citizens. You also either forget or ignore his support for the Axis powers during the second world war. Yes, we should indeed be wary of revisionism.


Salmon said:
Sunday, October 16, 2022 @ 4:31 PM

I cannot believe my eyes when I read the comment by Tbone. Is this person for real? He takes the atrocities of the fascists and reverse them neatly as if they were committed by the democrats. Atheists? Communists? Millions disagree with you. Remember Franco on the war, so the victors wrote the history.



Blazeaway said:
Monday, October 17, 2022 @ 2:43 PM

Spain, of course, still has some aspects of corporatism in its economy and political culture - and both sides are afraid to confront this.
You can see this in the cartelisation of some parts of the economy - look at car prices and try to bargain a dealership down - and in the way that TVE is openly propagandistic.
Spain won´t move forward until it comes to terms with this corporatism which is supported by the illiberals of Left and Right.
Orwell was a great man. I suspect he would be very disappointed by the way Spain regained its democracy after Franco´s death - only to hand it over the Brussels.
So the more Spain speaks of Orwell the better. I suspect though that they may speak but their ears are firmly closed


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