Franco and Hitler: the myths of Hendaye 1940

Preston, Paul (1992) Franco and Hitler: the myths of Hendaye 1940. Contemporary European History, 1 (1). pp. 1-16. ISSN 0960-7773

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Abstract

The Hitler/Franco encounter at Hendaye in October 1940 was a central myth of Francoist propaganda. Allegedly, faced with threats and blandishments to force Spain into war on the Axis side, Franco coolly stood his ground and thereby secured Spanish neutrality. However, there is little evidence that Hitler did threaten Franco. His purpose in traveling to Hendaye, and to Montoire where he met Laval and Pétain, was to compare the relative cost of closer relationships with Spain and Vichy France. Far from cleverly holding off Hitler, Franco was disappointed that the meeting foundered. Germany's need to maintain good relations with Vichy ensured that Hitler could not meet Franco's price for belligerence, the dismemberment of the French North African empire.

Item Type:	Article
Official URL:	http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayJourna...
Additional Information:	© 1992 Cambridge University Press
Divisions:	European Institute International History
Subjects:	D History General and Old World > DP Spain
Date Deposited:	09 Dec 2009 09:23
Last Modified:	13 Sep 2024 20:59
URI:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/26101

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