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Article: Deceit in Spanish Civil War.(A)(Commentary)(Op-Ed)(Political Books)
- Article from:
- The Washington Times (Washington, DC)
- Article date:
- July 17, 2001
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2001 News World Communications, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Byline: Arnold Beichman
When Gen. Emilio Mola was asked at the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in July 1936 which of his four columns he expected would capture Madrid, he replied, "the fifth column." He was, of course, referring to his undercover rebel supporters within the capital city.
What he didn't know was that there was a sixth column in Madrid comprising supposed supporters of the beleaguered Spanish Republic who would in time help him and his successor, Gen. Francisco Franco, to take Madrid and win the war. These were Joseph Stalin's battalions, Spanish Communist Party members, Soviet secret police, and Comintern agents whose instructions ...