Architects of Terror

In Architects of Terror, acclaimed historian Paul Preston explores the role of paranoia, conspiracy, and anti-Semitism in justifying the military coup of 1936 that led to Franco's dictatorship in Spain. The book reveals how fabricated narratives, including the bogus "Jewish-Masonic-Bolshevik Conspiracy," were wielded to combat perceived threats to traditional power structures, resulting in widespread violence and the loss of nearly 500,000 lives during the civil war. Through vivid portraits of key figures and ideologues, Preston illustrates the dangerous impact of misinformation and its relevance to contemporary politics.