“…(Cowles, 1941: 72) The second theme was a self-conscious religiosity that characterised the Nationalist rebellion as a Catholic 'crusade' against atheistic hordes. This proved highly effective in mobilising support internationally for Franco, both domestically and among Catholic institutions and congregations across the world (Thomas, 2003: 495;Flint, 1987). The final theme drew on reactionary conceptions of Spanish nationhood, which repudiated regional separatism and sought to associate Franco 'with the great heroes of Spain's past' (Preston, 1993: 290).…”