b'DISCOVERING THETHE SPANISH CIVIL WARWESTERN FRONT Scan hereA STATE OF AFFAIRS WORTH FIGHTING FOR Scan here for the fullfor the full itinerary itineraryTHE BRITISH & COMMONWEALTH FORCES 19141918 310 April 2025 Historical Background8 days The Spanish Civil War was a particularly bloody conflict that led to the 48 August 2025 Historical Background Expert Historian: deaths of half a million people, and over 30 years of a dictatorship under 5 days The battlefields of the Somme and Ypres saw the shedding of the bloodCol Ray WilkinsonFranco, the social and political impact of which is still being felt in Spain today. Starting as what was seen as a purely internal affair, the conflict Expert Historian: of almost one million British and Commonwealth soldiers during the Firstsoon became used by some countries as a dress rehearsal for the Second World War. Their names are synonymous with the horrors and sufferingsActivity Level: 2Dr Bruce Cherry World War. Commentators have gone so far as to say the Second World War of that conflict and the size of the monuments to the Missing at Thiepval, Activity Level: 2 the Menin Gate and Tyne Cot are testament to the scale of devastation ofstarted in 1936 not 1939.human life. But the war was not always one of continuous static stalemate.Starting in Madrid this tour explores the mainYet at the time that was not the prevailing attitude amongst the majority. Starting as a war of manoeuvre, the fast-moving German armies inexorablybattles that took place on the citys periphery,This view is typical of many governments of the day: With France and This five-day Western Front tour providesswept through Belgium outflanking all before them until the battles for thein particular the exploits of the British andSpain menaced by Bolshevism, it is not inconceivable that before long it an overview of the major events involvingFrontiers gradually brought them to a halt and trench warfare ensued asAmerican volunteers, as the Republicansmay pay us to throw in our lot with Germany and Italy, and the greater our British and Empire forces in Northern Francethey determined to hold the ground they had won. The next 3 years sawtenaciously held on to the capital citydetachment from European entanglements the better. Sir Maurice Hankey, and Belgium: it is both an introductorythe Allies attempt to break the deadlock through a succession of costly andthroughout the war. Admiring civil war inspiredCabinet Secretary, 20 June 1936.tour for the novice and an essential aideindecisive battles: Ypres, Loos, Neuve Chapelle and The Somme. But duringart such as Picassos Cubist painting Guernica memoire to those more familiar with theand reflecting on Francos former resting placeDespite the non-interventionist policy towards Spain adopted by most those years both sides also significantly developed their armies, weaponryat the Valle de los Cados we discuss the warswestern governments (apart from Italy, Germany, and Russia), some First World War. At selected key locations,and tactics to such an extent that the final months of the war saw armies40,000 individuals from around 50 countries volunteered to fight in Spain cemeteries, monuments and memorialonce more on the move engaging tactics that would develop into thesensitive legacy to modern Spain. We also visit parks in and around Mons, Ypres, theToledo with its enormous Alczar, scene of theon the Republican side, and 1,500 foreign nationals, mainly from Britain, German Blitzkrieg of the Second World War. dramatic siege, and now a fantastic militaryIreland, and Portugal, volunteered to fight for the Nationalists (alongside Somme and Arras you will hear of thethe very sizeable military contingents from Nazi Germany and Italy). human experience, gain an appreciationhistory museum, before travelling north to of the ground, discuss the effectivenessAragon where we visit the remarkable CaveAmongst their ranks were left wing writers such as George Orwell and of the tactics and weaponry employed,Hospital at La Bisbal de Falset. We then moveJohn Cornford, Winston Churchills anti-fascist nephews Giles and Esmond challenge the strategy and capability of theto the Ebro valley and stand where opposingRomilly, and passionate anti-communists like Peter Kemp. Why did they commanders and question the impact ofsides fought a bloody battle of attrition onfeel so passionately that they left their homelands, many from countries logistics and morale. Our list of sites is notthe Ebro Front. We also explore the exploits ofthousands of miles away, to go and fight in a foreign land?exhaustive, so if we have missed a particularBritish and American volunteers who fought place that you would like to visit, pleasedeterminedly in the International Brigades. ask us if it is possible to be included in theThe tour culminates in the graceful city of itinerary when you book. Barcelona where we walk the streets learning about the Civil War in the city. Day 1 Flight from London to Madrid or make your own arrangements to join the tour at the hotel. Hotel in Madrid - 5 nights. (D)Day 2 Travel by high-speed train to Toledovisit Alczar and Spanish Army Museum. Walking tour of Toledo in Civil War. Return to Madrid. (B, D)Day 3 Madrid - Ciudad Universitaria, Parque del Oeste, Casa de Campo. (B, D)Day 4 Brunete battle sites, Valle de los Cados. (B, D)Day 1 Mons 1914: Take morning Eurostar from London to Lille or make your Day 5 Jarama battle sitesincl. International Brigades memorial, Morata de own arrangements to join the tour at the hotel in Lille Europe. Tajuna - museum of the Battle of Jarama. Return to Madrid to the Reina Casteau, Mons (overnight). (D) Sofia Galleryview Picassos Guernica. (B, D)Day 2 Retreat from Mons/The Somme 1916: Ors, Le Cateau, La Boiselle, Day 6 . High-speed train Madrid to Lleida (2 hours). Coach Lleida - Hospital Cave at Mametz, Longueval, Pozieres, Amiens (two nights). (B,D) La Bisbal de Falset, continue to Asc. Hotel in area1 night. (B, L, D)Day 3 The Somme 1916 & 1918: Amiens, Villers-Bretonneux, Cachy, Thiepval,Day 7 Ebro Campaign battle sites, Exposici Guerra Civil La Trinxera, Cobrera ESSENTIALS Beaumont-Hamel, Serre. (B,D) ESSENTIALS dEbre. Drive to Barcelona. Check in to hotel for one night. (B, L, D)4-star hotels, meals as indicated,Day 4 The Artois 19151917: Vimy Ridge, Fromelles, Neuve Chapelle, Ypres4-star hotels, meals as indicated,Day 8 . Civil War in Barcelona walking tour. Midday travel to the airport for flight to drinks with dinner, all entrance fees,(overnight). (B,D) drinks with dinner, all entranceLondon or extend your stay in Spain. (B)tour manager and expert historianDay 5 The Ypres Salient, Lille. Eurostar to London or perhaps extend your fees, tour manager and expert throughout, all internal travel, stay in France. (B) historian throughout, all internal optional travel from UK. travel, optional travel from UK.48 www.theculturalexperience.com I info@theculturalexperience.com I UK0345 475 1815 I USA(toll-free) 877 209 5620 www.theculturalexperience.com I info@theculturalexperience.com I UK0345 475 1815 I USA(toll-free) 877 209 5620 49'