John Brisbane

Hello, earth to John, it was called WW2, we did win, the nazis couldnt beat us in the battle of britain and the nazis and italians couldnt beat us in north africa. yes the US was the guarantee of victory in europe, but there was no way in hell we where ever going to lose that.

will, grimsby, uk

i always wondered why spain was neutral and how gibraltar managed to stay as such a major asset for us when it was so incredibly next door to a facist country.

will, grimsby, uk

This is clearly a scurrulous attempt to blacken the name of Winston Churchill and raise Gordon Brown to the elevated position of the best PM this country ever had. A leftie plot this is, and it won't work. ;-)

David, St Albans, UK

What's new? The 'bribe' story goes back to Abwehr head Wilhem Canaris. Hillgarth, Canaris and Churchill, knew Juan March before the war.

Graham Keeley's referres to a J.Donovan head of strategic services. That should be William 'Wild Bill' Donovan, Medal of Honour, head of OSS from June 1942

Bob Cuddihy, edinburgh, scotland

Has a ring of authenticity. At the Nuremberg trials Goering claimed that if only Germany had managed to win control of Gibraltar they would have won the war.

John Dorman, Melbourne,

Like many other situations one evil that was less obnoxious than another. Yes Franco did, in the end, enable Spain to become a democracy but at great cost to many who suffered for it. As for Hitler, what did Spain have to gain by joining the war. Better to stay neutral and see how it would fly.

keith manton, houston , USA

After the Civil War, Franco was only interested in WW2 provided Spain obtained territorial rewards and protection against communism in exchange , but Spain didn't have much to offer. Given Franco's disproportionate demands, Germany preferred Spain to stay neutral. I doubt it was a matter of "bribes"

Miguel, Barcelona, Spain

In attributing Franco's succes to support from Hitler and Mussolini, why omit any mention of the significant support he received from Britain's blockade of legitimate overseas aid to the democratically elected government?

John, London,

I just finished reading C. J. Sansom's novel "Winter in Madrid," which involves Britain's attempt to keep Franco's Spain out of the war. Juan March is mentioned in it, and Alan Hilgarth is a character in the book. I recommend this good thriller.

Harold Gotthelf, Fords, NJ, USA

Exactly my thoughts Emilio, March probably pocketed it and other more important factors were responsible for Spain not siding with Hitler.

Ryan Brook, Manchester, UK

I'm sure a bribe helped but Franco was very aware - and commented as such - of what happened when French troops fought a war in Spain against the British and got clobbered. Hitler too was wary of becoming embroiled in the peninsular. It suited both sides not to fight in Spain. And very sensible too.

Burnley Bob, Liverpool, England

sounds like franco, like all other unscrupulous dictators, was willing to side with whoever gave him the more attractive offer - money from britain or land from germany. in the ned hitler refused him the land

david, london,

"Franco brought Democray to Spain." Excuse me, but wasn't the Spanish Republic (1931-36) a democracy? I suggest you start reading your history books from the front and not the back my friend.

Rob Gelling, Leeds, UK

High level corruption has always been part of the game then and now as practiced in Afganistan, Israel, Iraq to name but a few.
An ancient Greek in London

Nicholas Xenakis, Borough, London, England, UK

Amazing, a story with a happy ending.

Dennis, Sydney, Australia

Brilliant. Nobody died (that we know of) and an otherwise huge complication i.e. another siege of Gibraltar avoided.Oh that we still had such smart leaders!

Alan Lea, Sooke, Canada

I don't believe that the generals opinion have significative influence over Franco's decision. Franco refused with great obstination be persuaded by Hitler because Spain are not prepared for suffer another bath of blood. Probably the clever señor March put the money in his own pocket.

Emilio Daireaux, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Sounds like money well spent. Anything is cheaper than a war, especially one that Britain couldn't win!

John, Brisbane,

Hitler and Mussolini did one thing right by backing Franco against the Communists.

Brian P O Cinneide, eThekwini, Afrika Borwa

One can say what one likes now,But it was Franco who saved Spain from Stalins Bolshevism and destruction. It was Franco who in the end brought democracy to Spain by allowing the future King to come and live in Spain.
Franco was never anti-British,he destroyed Evil communism,saved Spain for West.

L.A. ISUFI, B. County .N.J., UNITED STATES