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Author Grandío Seoane, Emilio, author.

Title A balancing act : British intelligence in Spain during the Second World War / Emilio Grandío Seoane.

Publication Info. Brighton ; Portland : Sussex Academic Press, 2018.

Item Status

Description 1 online resource
Series Sussex studies in Spanish history
Sussex studies in Spanish history.
Summary "This book reveals the development, strategy and extraordinary success of Britain's secret services in Franco's Spain during the Second World War. The main claim of this study is that British pressure, exercised above all through their intelligence services, led Franco to distance himself from the Axis cause and eventually embrace that of the Allies. Starting from a virtually non-existent base, the British rapidly built up a complex intelligence network in Spain that stretched from Corunna to Barcelona and from Bilbao to Gibraltar. As Spain was a non-belligerent, spy networks--including those of the Germans, Italians, Portuguese and British--proliferated in the Iberian Peninsula. Double-agents abounded within these networks; each one knew what the others were up to. The British exploited this two-way traffic to let Franco know that if he did not accede to their demands, they would back a restoration of the Bourbon monarchy under Don Juan. This pressure culminated in the meeting of 1943 between Franco and the British Ambassador, Sir Samuel Hoare, at the dictator's country retreat in Galicia, the British underlining their purpose by flying warplanes close by the estate. Following this meeting, Franco almost immediately began to move away from the Axis powers and towards the Allies. The British swiftly dismantled their intelligence networks given that they had achieved their aim. Franco's expulsion of the German naval forces from Spanish ports and the denazification of the regime explains the benevolent attitude of the Allies towards the Spanish dictatorship after the war"--Provided by publisher
Bibliography Includes bibliographical references and index.
Contents Introduction: "There is no alternative" : the British position in relation to Spain before the Second World War -- British intelligence in Spain at the outset of the Second World War -- The threat of German invasion : organizing the Resistance (spring of 1941) -- Franco's most complicated year : 1943 -- Franco and the Allies face to face -- Spain changes sides, 1944-1945 -- Glossary.
Local Note eBooks on EBSCOhost EBSCO eBook Subscription Academic Collection - North America
Subject Franco, Francisco, 1892-1975.
Franco, Francisco, 1892-1975 https://id.oclc.org/worldcat/entity/E39PBJrgJM9TM64RVrFt8dPYT3
World War, 1939-1945 -- Secret service -- Great Britain.
World War, 1939-1945 -- Underground movements -- Spain.
Espionage, British -- Spain -- History -- 20th century.
Great Britain -- Foreign relations -- Spain.
Spain -- Foreign relations -- Great Britain.
World War, 1939-1945 -- Diplomatic history.
HISTORY -- Europe -- Western.
Diplomatic history
Diplomatic relations
Espionage, British
Secret service
War -- Underground movements
Great Britain https://id.oclc.org/worldcat/entity/E39PBJdmp7p3cx8hpmJ8HvmTpP
Spain https://id.oclc.org/worldcat/entity/E39PBJqFTrvj6Mhw6JfTGmqJDq
World War (1939-1945) https://id.oclc.org/worldcat/entity/E39Qhp4vBbhpRH9XvjbDFXtxhb
Chronological Term 1900-1999
Genre/Form History
Other Form: Print version: Grandío Seoane, Emilio. Balancing act. Brighton ; Portland : Sussex Academic Press, 2018 9781845198848 (DLC) 2017017728 (OCoLC)982089069
ISBN 9781782844501 (electronic bk.)
1782844503 (electronic bk.)
9781845198848
1845198840
Standard No. 40027570001