Using a rich variety of sources such as official newsreels, school textbooks, the work of contemporary historians, memoirs, official documents, legislation, and monuments, this book explores how the historical memory of the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) influenced the transition to democracy in Spain after Franco's death in 1975. The author traces the development of official discourse on the War throughout the Franco period and describes the régime's attempts to achieve political legitimacy. Although there was no universal consensus regarding the events of the Civil War, general agreement did exist concerning the main lesson which should be drawn from it: never again should Spaniards become embroiled in a fratricidal conflict.

Acronyms
Glossary
Acknowledgements
Acknowledgements for the English Edition
Foreword for the English Edition
Preface

Chapter 1. Regarding Memory, Learning and Amnesia
The Generational Question
Theoretical and Conceptual Framework
Presentism
Taxidermism
Amnesia
Learning
Ceremonies and Monuments
Methodology and Sources

Chapter 2. From the Justification of War to the exaltation of Peace: The Development of Official Discourse during the Franco Period
Alternating Legitimacy
Origin-based Legitimacy and Performance-based Legitimacy
Champions of Francoist Legitimacy
From War to Peace
Sources of Political Socialisation
No-Do Historical Narrative
Commemorations of the Civil War
Monuments of the Victors
Legendary Sites of the Defeated
Policies of Reconciliation and Policies of Vengeance
From Punishment to Forgiveness
From Munich to the Organic Law of State
Symbols and Myths Relating to the Civil War
Towards the Convergence of Interpretations
Mythical Constructions of Francoism
Regarding the Civil War
Regarding Reconciliation and the Defeated

Chapter 3. The Memory of War and the Lessons of Peace in the Democratic Transition
Economic and Social Characteristics of the Transition
History as Magistra Vitae
Institutional Structure
Reconciliation Consensus

Conclusion

Bibliography
Tables
Graphs
Appendices
Index