David Ebsworth, a familiar face from his Spanish Civil War talks, was back with us today to share his latest adventure.
This time, he invited us to step into Franco’s Spain in 1938, tagging along on one of the dictator’s very real battlefield tours. The Group, David, and Coventry schoolteacher Mary Walker—an enthusiastic Franco fan—embarked on a whirlwind journey through history. Along the way, we bumped into some of their actual travel companions, swapped stories with the tour guides, and met a few unexpected heroes (and villains). We explored remarkable sites, admired stunning works of art, and uncovered fresh secrets behind what might just be the boldest propaganda stunt ever pulled.
Back in 1938, General Franco’s Nationalist troops weren’t just conquering territory—they were also organizing “National War Routes,” official battlefield tours through newly captured land. These weren’t your average sightseeing jaunts; they were slick, state-run displays meant to show off Nationalist power and win over international visitors. The most famous, the “War Route of the North,” kicked off in July 1938 and ran through the end of World War II, attracting somewhere between 6,670 and 20,010 participants—most of them foreigners eager for a front-row seat to history in the making.
We learned that eventually karma did sadly catch up with Mary Walker and she was killed by a German bomb attack during the Coventry blitz in 1941.
Group Leader Keith Smith thanked David for yet another engaging presentation. History is never dull when David presents and we look forward to welcoming David back in the future.
After the summer break History Group will be recovening on Tuesday 14th of October when Gary Johnson will be taking us through the life of Anthony Blunt. Another presentation not to be missed.
