Orwell was there. His "Homage to Catalonia" is a very sober look at factionism, complexities and absurdities of the conflict. Not a very partisan look at all if you ask me.
danoloan knows that Orwell was there; the article mentions Homage to Catalonia. His point, which I agree with, is that he is (somewhat, but noticeably) softer on the Republican side than on the Franco side than in Homage. After reading that book the only way to come away with being substantially more sympathetic to the Republican side than Franco's is because Orwell, the protagonist, fights for the former. It's clear that Orwell believes that had the Republicans won, there would inevitably have been another war between POUM, Communists, socialists, and anarchists. In particular, it seems to me that he substantially softens here the odds of a Soviet victory in said struggle versus what he writes in Homage.
Is it because by 1942 the USSR was ally to the West's life-or-death struggle against fascism? I don't know.
Is it because by 1942 the USSR was ally to the West's life-or-death struggle against fascism? I don't know.