alternatehistory.com
The Spanish Concession in Tianjin and the "Tianjin Far East Spanish Expeditionary Corps"
FDW - thanks
Wyragen-TXRG4P - they're not at war yet compadre
OR ARE THEY
erich von changstein - Done
Sergio Van Lukenstein - Or a red herring
tjvuse - thanks
Geekhis Khan - Well yes and no - one could argue that if the Shanghai Incident had not taken place then Taisho Democracy could have continued and the Second Great War could have been fought by a Democratic Japan - on the other hand the quick way it was dispatched raises serious questions about it's long term viability. Still the positive experience of democracy have given Japanese Democrats a model to use in the aftermath of the Second Great War...
Without further ado:
______________________________________________________________
The Spanish Concession in Tianjin and the "Tianjin Far East Spanish Expeditionary Corps"
A snapshot of the small Catholic church that the Spanish established
The Spanish Concession in Tianjin, although never massive in size, scope or importance would play an important role in the Spanish Civil War. The "Humiliation Treaty" signed in Beijing in 1927 granted a small 2km area to the Spanish - these concession areas were mostly from the (returned) Italian, Belgian and Austro-Hungarian Concession zones. In 1936 the Concession zone had a population of about 10000, about a tenth of which was foreign. The Spanish didn't try and do much with the concession. A small catholic church was established by Jesuit missionaries the "Wang Hai Lou." The "Governor" of the small concession was the head of the Far East Spanish Expeditionary Corps: General Francisco Franco.
Francisco Franco in better times.
The "Tianjn Far East Spanish Expeditionary Corps" was a small force of 100 men - mostly Morrocans with a small auxilary force of Chinese. They were tasked with keeping order in the city and because of the small population and placid and 'hands off' nature of Spanish rule were mostly succesful in doing so.
This was despite the state of the Corps Commander and Governor. Francisco Franco had stupped into a narcotic stupor since being 'exiled' to Tianjin for his role in suppresing the Asturias Strike. Although he was a useful tool for Lerroux to suppress the anarchists - Franco was inflammatory to keep around in Spain - so although he was formally given a promotion in order to lead a 'Corps' - his actual command of 100+ soldiers was negligable.
Exile seems to have broken Franco's spirit - he was known to frequent opium dens and brothels in Tianjin. Given the mass of anecdotal evidence we have of his 'adventures' it is very surprising that no news of this seems to have gotten to Spain. This is tribute to the personal loyalty and affection that Franco's soldiers had for him.
Word of a military uprising reached Franco's ear in July 1 1936 seems to have been a catalyst for his recovery. In his own words: "all of a sudden, I saw a flashing blind light and the voice of angels singing... I saw a disturbing vision... Angels carrying the banner of the Republic being mowed down...It was then I knew that I was destined to save the Republic." Franco declared for the Republic two days later - however he could do little as he was stuck literally more than 2000 miles away with no way to get to Spain. Franco however, was filled with a brand new determination to save what he now referred to as his "Beloved Republic."
- Franco: Saviour of the Republic
Conventional 'histories' of Francisco Franco - being little more than thinly veiled hagiographies tend to focus on the 'quasi-religious' aspect of Franco's 'mission' to save the Republic. However recently opened archives in Nanking reveal that Franco was in fact subject of an intensive campaign to manipulate and 'brainwash' him. The papers reveal that Franco had been under surveillance by the Census Bureau for quite some time. Franco's addiction to opiates and other narcotics gave the Bureau leverage over Franco and his 'religious vision' seems to have been staged or planted on his mind subconciously using drugs and mind manipulation techniques. That the Republic still continues to celebrate Franco Day despite this coming to light is a symbol of the moral bankruptcy and decay of bourgeioise Republicanism.
- International Socialist Review, July 1 2010
Wyragen-TXRG4P - they're not at war yet compadre
OR ARE THEYerich von changstein - Done
Sergio Van Lukenstein - Or a red herring
tjvuse - thanks
Geekhis Khan - Well yes and no - one could argue that if the Shanghai Incident had not taken place then Taisho Democracy could have continued and the Second Great War could have been fought by a Democratic Japan - on the other hand the quick way it was dispatched raises serious questions about it's long term viability. Still the positive experience of democracy have given Japanese Democrats a model to use in the aftermath of the Second Great War...
Without further ado:
______________________________________________________________
The Spanish Concession in Tianjin and the "Tianjin Far East Spanish Expeditionary Corps"
A snapshot of the small Catholic church that the Spanish established
The Spanish Concession in Tianjin, although never massive in size, scope or importance would play an important role in the Spanish Civil War. The "Humiliation Treaty" signed in Beijing in 1927 granted a small 2km area to the Spanish - these concession areas were mostly from the (returned) Italian, Belgian and Austro-Hungarian Concession zones. In 1936 the Concession zone had a population of about 10000, about a tenth of which was foreign. The Spanish didn't try and do much with the concession. A small catholic church was established by Jesuit missionaries the "Wang Hai Lou." The "Governor" of the small concession was the head of the Far East Spanish Expeditionary Corps: General Francisco Franco.
Francisco Franco in better times.
The "Tianjn Far East Spanish Expeditionary Corps" was a small force of 100 men - mostly Morrocans with a small auxilary force of Chinese. They were tasked with keeping order in the city and because of the small population and placid and 'hands off' nature of Spanish rule were mostly succesful in doing so.
This was despite the state of the Corps Commander and Governor. Francisco Franco had stupped into a narcotic stupor since being 'exiled' to Tianjin for his role in suppresing the Asturias Strike. Although he was a useful tool for Lerroux to suppress the anarchists - Franco was inflammatory to keep around in Spain - so although he was formally given a promotion in order to lead a 'Corps' - his actual command of 100+ soldiers was negligable.
Exile seems to have broken Franco's spirit - he was known to frequent opium dens and brothels in Tianjin. Given the mass of anecdotal evidence we have of his 'adventures' it is very surprising that no news of this seems to have gotten to Spain. This is tribute to the personal loyalty and affection that Franco's soldiers had for him.
Word of a military uprising reached Franco's ear in July 1 1936 seems to have been a catalyst for his recovery. In his own words: "all of a sudden, I saw a flashing blind light and the voice of angels singing... I saw a disturbing vision... Angels carrying the banner of the Republic being mowed down...It was then I knew that I was destined to save the Republic." Franco declared for the Republic two days later - however he could do little as he was stuck literally more than 2000 miles away with no way to get to Spain. Franco however, was filled with a brand new determination to save what he now referred to as his "Beloved Republic."
- Franco: Saviour of the Republic
Conventional 'histories' of Francisco Franco - being little more than thinly veiled hagiographies tend to focus on the 'quasi-religious' aspect of Franco's 'mission' to save the Republic. However recently opened archives in Nanking reveal that Franco was in fact subject of an intensive campaign to manipulate and 'brainwash' him. The papers reveal that Franco had been under surveillance by the Census Bureau for quite some time. Franco's addiction to opiates and other narcotics gave the Bureau leverage over Franco and his 'religious vision' seems to have been staged or planted on his mind subconciously using drugs and mind manipulation techniques. That the Republic still continues to celebrate Franco Day despite this coming to light is a symbol of the moral bankruptcy and decay of bourgeioise Republicanism.
- International Socialist Review, July 1 2010
- CCA
- Word Count: 690