Spanish civil war By : Raaid and Kervin = )

The split nation It was a civil war that broke out in 1936 and lasted 3 years till 1939. The war was fought between the two sides – The Republicans and The Nationalists. Republican side was fought by the people who were loyal to the Spanish Republic. Nationalist side was fought by the fascist rebel group led by General Francisco Franco. Casualties were as severe as an estimated 500,000 were killed.

Military support during the coup The coup was supported by military units in Morocco, Pamplona, Burgos, Valladolid, Cádiz, Córdoba, and Seville. However, rebelling units in important cities—such as Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Bilbao, and Málaga—were unable to capture their objectives Spain was thus left militarily and politically divided. The Nationalists, led by General Francisco Franco, and the Republican government fought for control of the country. The Nationalist forces received munitions and soldiers from Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy, while the Soviet Union and Mexico offered lesser support to the "Loyalist" or "Republican" side.

1936 Pink-nationalist Blue-Republican

1937 1938 1939 Blue- Republican Pink- Nationalist 1937 1938 1939 The Battle of Málaga started in mid-January, and this Nationalist offensive in Spain's southeast would turn into a disaster for the Republicans, who were poorly organised and armed.(1937) The Battle of Teruel was an important confrontation. The city, which had formerly belonged to the Nationalists, was conquered by Republicans in January. (1938) Franco's troops conquered Catalonia in a whirlwind campaign during the first two months of 1939. Tarragona fell on 15 January, followed by Barcelona on 26 January and Gerona on 2 February.(1939) Blue- Republican Pink- Nationalist

The outcome and causes The Nationalists won! Franco ruled Spain for the next 36 years(1939~1975) The war started when a group of generals declared a pronunciamiento (declaration of opposition) against the elected, leftist government. It was led by Jose Sanjurjo, the coup itself was quite supported with many conservative groups offering their support. These include religious groups such as the Carlists, and the Fascist Falange. It ended with the victory of the Nationalists and the exile of thousands of leftist Spaniards. Those associated with the losing Republicans were persecuted by the victorious Nationalists. With the establishment of a dictatorship led by General Francisco Franco in the aftermath of the war, all right-wing parties were fused into the structure of the Franco regime.

Not without atrocities. The Nationalist side were focused on “cleansing” Spain of any traces of leftism which meant that they would effectively eradicate any source of it after they captured an area. The Nationalist also executed an estimated 130,000 people and many of them were school teachers, this was they were educating people in laicism which to the Nationalist was considered an act against the Roman Catholic Church. Extensive killings of civilians were carried out in the cities captured by the Nationalists. Nationalist forces massacred civilians in Seville, where some 8,000 people were shot; 10,000 were killed in Cordoba; 6,000–12,000 were killed in Badajoz Nationalists also murdered Catholic clerics and also conducted city-wide bombing.

The republican also committed tons of atrocities The Republican government were against religion of all forms and would murder clergy. Casualties include 4,184 priests, 2,365 monks and friars, and 283 nuns, in addition to 13 bishops. There were widespread desecration of religious property.