The Spanish Civil War

The Republicans Urban workers, most landless peasants, much of the educated middle class, all the left-wing political groups and socialist and anarchist Trade Unions

Nationalists The majority of Catholic clergy and practicing Catholics, most of the large landowners, many businessmen, and fascists They kept the best trained part of the Army, that is, the Army of Morocco, and many important officials.

FOREIGN INVOLVEMENT Portugal, Germany and Italy helped the Nationalists. The democratic countries decided not to get involved (non- intervention)

FOREIGN INVOLVEMENT The Soviet Union and Mexico helped the Republicans The International Brigades and American Volunteers went to Spain to protect the Popular Front government. They were always led by Communists.

DEVELOPMENT OF THE WAR On 19th July, 1936, General Francisco Franco assumed command of the Nationalist forces. In 1936, October, Franco was named Generalísimo de los Ejércitos and Head of the State of the National area.

MADRID The main aim of the rebels was to occupy Madrid. But the defence of the city was fierce; some Anarchist Brigades from Cataluña and the first volunteers of the International Brigades took part in it. The Republican government was forced to shift from Madrid to Valencia, out of the combat zone.

MADRID Having failed to take the capital, Franco bombarded it from the air.

GUERNIKA After the failed attempt to conquer Madrid, Franco decided to finish the Republican North defence. In April the German Condor Legion bombed the town of Guernika in the Basque Country, causing hundreds of casualties.

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INTERNAL PROBLEMS IN THE REPUBLICAN SIDE As the war progressed, Anarchists and the POUM (Partido Obrero de Unificación Marxista) were integrated with the regular army, but in May 1937 anarchists and communists engaged each other in violent street battles in the city of Barcelona.

END OF THE WAR At the end of March, 1939, the Nationalists entered Madrid. The war was finished.

CONSEQUENCES Evacuation of children to Mexico, Britain, Belgium, the Soviet Union and other European countries. Many of those in the Soviet Union, from Communist families, remained there and experienced the Second World War

CONSEQUENCES Atrocities were committed on both sides during the war. The terror was used against civilians. In the case of the Nationalist side, these atrocities were ordered by fascist authorities in order to eradicate any trace of leftism in Spain.The most famous victim was the poet and dramatist Federico García Lorca.

CONSEQUENCES Atrocities on the Republican side were committed by groups of radical leftists (not by the government) against the rebel supporters, including the nobility, former landowners, rich farmers, industrialists and the Church

CONSEQUENCES After the end of the War, there were brutal reprisals against Franco's leftist former enemies. Thousands of Republicans were imprisoned and executed. Many other Republicans fled abroad, especially to France and Mexico.

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1. Why was the Spanish Civil War considered to be the prelude to World War II? 2. Who helped Franco in the Spanish Civil War? What countries? What leaders? 3. Who declared policies of non-intervention? Why? 4. Who did the Republicans receive help from during the Spanish Civil War?