24 THE SLIDE TO WAR 1918–1939
Med it er
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C EATL
ANT
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Duero
Ebr
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Majorca
Menorca
Ibiza
S P A N I S H M O RO
CC
O
Oviedo
León
Gijón
Santander
Bilbao Guernica
Burgos
Valladolid
Salamanca
Jul 6–25, 1937
Brunete
Cáceres
Toledo
Mérida
Madrid
Mar 8, 1937
Guadalajara
Saragossa
Teruel
Albacete
Belchite
San Sebastián
Tarragona
Barcelona
Castellón de
la Plana
Cartagena
Almería
Granada
Lopera
Seville
Huelva
Badajoz
Lisbon
Porto
Cádiz
Córdoba
Tangier
Apr 15, 1939
Vinaròs
Palma
Alicante
Valencia
ANDORRA
Feb 6–27, 1937
Jarama
Jan 5–Feb 4, 1939
Valsequillo
Feb 3–8, 1937
Málaga
CA
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BASQ
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OUN
TRY
During the 1930s, Spain was highly
polarized, with major divisions between
the church and state, urban and rural
communities, liberal and conservative
values, and the rich and poor. At one
end of the political spectrum was the
right-wing National Front (Nationalists),
supported by the Falange (a Spanish
Fascist party), monarchists, and some
Catholics. At the other end was the
left-wing Popular Front (Republicans),
consisting of Communists, socialists,
liberals, and anarchists.
The Republicans won the general
election on February 16, 1936. Fearing
a Communist revolution, the army
officer and Nationalist leader General
Francisco Franco launched a military
uprising in Spanish Morocco and across
south-western Spain. Pro-government
groups fought against the Nationalist
rebels, but Franco received significant
“... wherever I am there will be no Communism.”
FRANCISCO FRANCO, QUOTED IN 1938
help from Nazi Germany and Fascist
Italy, both of which wanted to stop the
spread of Communism in Europe. By
November 1936, Franco’s troops had
reached the outskirts of Madrid—a
Republican stronghold. Unable to
capture the capital, the Nationalists
besieged the city for over two years.
Although the Republicans continued
to control eastern Spain and much of
the south-east, Franco’s forces were
more organized and gradually took
over areas previously under Republican
control. The Nationalist victory at
the Battle of Teruel (December 1937–
February 1938) was a turning point in
the war, and at the Battle of the Ebro
(July–November 1938) the Republican
troops were almost entirely eliminated.
By spring 1939 the conflict was over,
and Franco’s government was accepted
by most of Europe.
THE SPANISH
CIVIL WAR
A prelude to World War II, the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939) was
a bitter struggle between supporters of the democratically elected
government and an emerging military dictatorship. Several other
countries lent their support to each side.
While Spain was a non-belligerent in World War II,
it was not entirely neutral. Although Franco did
not officially join the Axis alliance, he did support
Germany by providing essential supplies and
allowing thousands of Spaniards to volunteer in
the Axis forces, albeit on condition that they did
not fight the Western Allies. Spain and Germany
came close to an alliance after the fall of France
in June 1940, but Hitler considered Franco’s
demands too high and the two could not broker
a deal. As the war progressed, Hitler considered
an invasion of Spain, prompting Franco to move his
forces to the border with France.
▽ Resisting the Nationalists
The women’s militia of the left-wing Popular Front
march in Madrid in July 1936. A number of women
fought in the Republican forces.
Aug 22, 1936 Portugal allows German ships
to dock at Lisbon and from there dispatch
war supplies into Nationalist territory.
THE WAR BEGINS JULY 1936
On July 17, 1936, Nationalist forces based in Spanish
Morocco launched a coup against the newly elected
Republican government. Franco took command of
the Army of Africa—a Moroccan-based group of
professional soldiers—on July 19. From July 27,
Franco’s army was flown from Morocco to Spain
by German and Italian forces, and fighting soon
spread through south-western Spain.
1
German support
Italian support
INTERNATIONAL INTERVENTION 1936
Although 27 countries signed a non-intervention pact
in September 1936, the ideological nature of the war
gave it an international dimension. The Nationalists
were aided by soldiers and equipment supplied by
Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany. The Republicans were
supported by the Communist government of Russia,
and the government of Mexico, as well as by volunteers
from International Brigades—left-wing fighters who
came from all over the world to fight Fascism.
2
Soviet support
General Francisco Franco
SPAIN IN WORLD WAR II
ATROCITIES AGAINST CIVILIANS 1936–1939
Both sides committed atrocities against civilians during
the war. The Republicans targeted anyone believed
to be right wing, including teachers, lawyers, mayors,
and landowners, and they ransacked many churches.
Meanwhile, the Nationalists persuaded the Nazis and
Italians to carry out attacks from the air, including raids
on Guernica and Barcelona, which was bombed by
Italian aircraft that flew from the Balearic Islands.
3
Republican violence Nationalist violence
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