Examine the impact of foreign intervention on the Spanish Civil War

Thesis Statement Foreign intervention had a major impact on the Spanish Civil War, due to its effects on the military, ideology, and economy of both the Nationalists and the Republicans.

Paragraph 1 The military aid provided to the Nationalists bolstered their cause and gave them means to effectively wage war.

Supporting Evidence for Paragraph 1 The majority of the Spanish Navy remained loyal at start of war, trapping the elite Army of Africa, Hitler order the Luftwaffe to transport them The well trained and equipped Condor Legion gave Nationalists air superiority throughout most of the conflict Italian Navy patrolled coast of Mediterranean, was a threat to supplies of of Republicans Germany and Italy supplied modern equipment that was generally of better quality then what the Republicans had German and Italian support helped unify the Nationalists as they supported Franco and did not undermine him

Paragraph 2 Foreign intervention impacted the ideology of the Republicans and had the effect exacerbating the divisions between them.

Supporting Evidence for Paragraph 2 USSR officially supported the Republicans but they were more concerned with supporting Communists, deepening rifts between the different left-wing groups USSR wanted to cement the power of Communists, so that they would be the strongest group, this weakened the ability of the different groups to work together Anarchists and POUM believed that Stalin was just using the war to further his own aims, conflict cumulating in the “May Days” Advisors from USSR encouraged Soviet ideals, hoping Spain could become a Soviet-styled state, other groups didn’t neccasarily like this

Paragraph 3 Foreign intervention positively impacted the Nationalist economy while it negatively impacted the Republic economy.

Evidence for Paragraph 3 Republicans needed to pay for USSR support they got with their gold reserves, part of the reason why their armies were underequipped Since their gold reserves were depleted the Republicans printed money to pay for costs for war, increasing inflation US allowed Nationalists to buy raw materials with credit, loaned them $700 million

Conclusion Foreign intervention played a major role during the Spanish Civil War and had a great impact on many aspects of the war. Its most significant effects can be seen in the way it influenced the military of the Nationalists, the ideology of the Republicans, and the economies of both sides.