The Spanish Civil War (17 July 1936 - 1 April 1939)

Spanish Civil War 1936-39

1. Dates of events

2. What happened

3. Reaction of British govt.

4. Reaction of French govt.

5. British public opinion – majority/minority

6. Significance

Spanish Civil War

What you will need to know1. Who the 2 sides in the war were2. Foreign intervention

- why - actions taken

- impact on war- impact on diplomatic relations- importance for powers

What you don’t need to know1. Spanish history up to war2. Details of events in Spain3. Outcome for Spain

2 Sides in Spain

• Peasants & town workers• Socialists• Communists• Trade unions• Liberals• Left wing coalition (Libs,

Socialists & Communists elected with 34.3% in 1936

• Policy – distribution of land, reform of inefficient army, reform of over powerful church (Azana reforms)

• Landowners• Catholic church• Army • Monarchists• Afraid of govt reforms• Got 33.2% of vote in 1936• Policy – rebel against

elected govt, afraid of revolution and strikes, want to keep their way of life

• Leader – General Franco

POPULAR FRONT – REPUBLICAN (L.W.) Government

POPULAR FRONT – REPUBLICAN (L.W.) Government

NATIONALISTS (R.W.) Rebels

NATIONALISTS (R.W.) Rebels

The 2 Sides• 2 Sides balanced in resources

• Foreign powers intervened until the point of exhaustion

• Bulk of population, important agricultural and industrial resources on Republics side (LW)

• Republic probably would have won had it not been for foreign intervention

SUPPORT • Franco (RW) 30 Junker planes flew troops from Morocco• Grew in confidence and quantity as war progressed.• Provided troops – up to 10000 at a time, tanks, aircraft,

warships• Britain and France did not oppose

WHYIdeological - Crusade against Bolshevism(LW) – support

fascismMilitary - Practice ground for new military tactics &

technologyPolitical - Break Stresa – Win Mussolini, aid AnchlussEconomic - Spanish iron ore

Foreign InterventionGERMANY

SUPPORT• Given readily for Franco RW• Troops up to 50,000 at a time• Plus considerable equipment – aircraft, tanks, warships • Direct involvement 1937 onwards

WHY?Ideological - Mussolini wanted to see Fascism expand in EuropeMilitary - Wanted naval bases in BalearicsPolitical - Boost domestic prestige

Foreign InterventionITALY

SUPPORT• Given but limited for Republic LW – he faced 2 other

threats- Japan and Germany• Provided aircraft, tanks, military advisers

WHY?• Ideological - Anti-fascist• Political - Wanted to prolong war divide Europe

- Advance international Communism

Foreign InterventionRUSSIA

International Brigades

• 59,380 volunteers from fifty-five countries served • Fought on side of Republic (RW)• Saw fight as crusade against fascism • 9,934 (16 per cent) died and 7,686 (12.9 per cent)

were badly wounded.