1. Nature of the Spanish Civil War
Brendan Stone & Alex Wang

2. Limited or Total War? Limited War Total War Foreign Nations
support was mostly sent in the form of weapons
Limited geographical area
Limited degree of mobilization
Spain
Use of propaganda
Civilians targeted in bombing raids
Use of both old and modern warfare tactics (cavalry, airpower, seapower)
Blitzkrieg was used (tanks, artillery, air bombardment)

3. A Case of Total War - Guernica
1,600 defenseless civilians were killed in the bombing of Guernica by the Condor Legion of the German Air Force

4. Republican Weaknesses
Political Disunity
The Republicans were divided among different ideologies: communism, socialism, and anarchism
Communists/Socialists
Anarchists
Communists/Socialists wanted to “revolutionize” only after the war was won
Wanted to strengthen the Second Republic
The Spanish Communist Party’s membership increased tenfold in 15 months from 40,000 in 1936 to 400,000 in 1937
Anarchists believed the war could be won only through revolutionary policies
Wanted a new revolutionary regime

5. Republican Weaknesses
Political Disunity - ‘May Days’
4 days of street fighting in Barcelona
Communists/Socialists vs. Anarchists/POUM
Communist Leader Juan Negrin attacked the Anarchists/POUM and its leaders were imprisoned or executed

6. Republican Weaknesses
Military Problems
no unified command
communists and anarchists would not work together
battles were fought in series of local conflicts instead of an overall major campaign
Offensive campaigns were not sustained
Brenete, Belchite, and Teruel

7. Republican Weaknesses
Economic weaknesses
Anarchist workers’ committees took control of industry, public transport and utilities while collective farms were set up in the countryside
Production in key areas of Catalan fell by two-thirds
led to raw material and food shortages
Inflation reached 300% during the war

8. Nationalist Strengths
Political Unity
Franco rose to power and controlled politics and the military
he merged the Carlist and Falange Parties into the Falange Espanola Tradicionalista
Military Unity
The Army of Africa proved to be the most effective force in the civil war
All forces were under Franco’s leadership including Italian forces. This led to…
better communications and equipment of soldiers
effective defensive tactics
successful offensive campaigns

9. Nationalist Strengths
Economic control
Nationalists had control over main food- producing areas
Won areas of major industry
Could trade internationally
USA gave $700 million in credit
Franco’s forces could acquire all needed rubber and oil

10. Main Reasons for Nationalist Victory
Support of Germany and Italy, including transport of Army of Africa from Morocco, air power, troops and finance
Non-Intervention Agreement signed by 27 nations including Britain and France
Disagreement and in-fighting by the various strands of left wing supporters and other Republican groups with political factionalism.
Russian support for Republicans came with strings attached
Nationalists were more cohesive under Franco
Tactical mistakes in conduct of the war by Republicans.

11. Approaching the Essay Question
For what reasons, and with what results, did foreign intervention occur in the Spanish Civil War ( )?
REASONS
ideology (i.e. providing support for rival domestic factions)
economic benefits to be gained in event of victory of one particular side
geopolitical/strategic benefits for the future
IMPACT
extent of damage caused
effect on the duration of the conflict
economic costs as a result of foreign involvement
significance of contribution of outside aid to eventual victory/defeat of one side

12. Foreign Intervention Historiography
The Spanish Civil War “became an international crisis whose solution was decided by external circumstances” - Hugh Thomas
These external circumstances included…
Aid from foreign governments and volunteers with their stake in the result of the conflict
As a result, foreign intervention...
lengthened and intensified the war
merged Spanish issues with wider European ideological battles

13. The Non-Intervention Committee
Established by Britain and France
Sought to limit foreign support to the conflict in Spain
Caused by Britain’s fear of this leading to a general European conflict
Less of an effort to block aid going to the Nationalists than the Republic

14. Germany REASONS Ideological - Stop communism
Economic Benefits - Received raw materials like iron ore
Future Geopolitical/Strategic Benefits - Hitler was leery at first, wasn’t prepared for a general European war; ability to test out Luftwaffe in live conditions; hamper Anglo-French maritime communications
IMPACT
Thought the war would be over shortly and only committed limited aid at first
Supplied Nationalist cause through Portugal
Perpetrated the bombing of Guernica, pivotal in the Nationalists’ gain of Catalonia
German military presence deterred action from other countries
Spain ended up being a proving ground for other fascist soldiers from Germany and Italy

15. Italy
REASONS
Ideological - Anti-communist/socialist/democratic outlook; pro-fascist
Economic Benefits -
Future Geopolitical/Strategic Benefits - Enhance influence as key power in the Mediterranean; demonstration of power; fascist victory would encircle France and weaken its left-wing influence; place pressure on French North African colonies
IMPACT
Gave the most assistance
Sent 70,000-75,000 troops as well as planes, tanks and weapons
Bombed cities and threatened supplies with submarines
Most significant intervention came in the form of air and Naval support, undoubtedly leading to a Nationalist victory

16. USSR
REASONS
Ideological - Worried by the “spread of fascism in Europe”
Economic Benefits - Paid in the gold reserves of the former Republic
Future Geopolitical/Strategic Benefits - Did not want another fascist state in Europe to contribute to Hitler’s growing alliance; did not wish to polarize Britain and France into an alliance with Hitler; the longer it dragged on, the more likely the conflict would escalate into a general war far from the borders of the USSR
IMPACT
Provided 1,000 aircrafts, 900 tanks, 1,500 artillery pieces, 300 armoured cars, 15,000 machine guns, 30,000 automatic firearms, 30,000 mortars, 500,000 rifles and 30,000 tons of ammunition
Transported international volunteers and weapons
Lengthened the conflict, by being the only supporter of the Republic
If the Republicans had won, the country would be nearly bankrupt and the value of its currency depleted
Allowed the Republicans to put up a fight much longer than if they had been alone.
withdrew from NIC in October 1936
The USSR was the main supporter of the Republican forces. Joseph Stalin, worried by the ‘spread of Fascism’ in Europe and the threat it posed to the Soviet Union, was willing to send aid in order to stop the Nationalists from gaining power. He encouraged the committee to form international brigades of volunteer fighters that would be sent to aid Republican Spain. The Soviet Union was also the biggest provider of military material for the Republican forces. During the war, the USSR sent 1,000 aircrafts, 900 tanks, 1,500 artillery pieces, 300 armoured cars, 15,000 machine guns, 30,000 automatic firearms, 30,000 mortars, 500,000 rifles and 30,000 tons of ammunition. Stalin expected to be paid in gold for the aid, as Spain happened to have the world’s fourth largest gold reserves at the outbreak of the war. Approximately $500 million, two-thirds of Spain’s gold reserves, were shipped to the Soviet Union during the conflict.

17. Britain
REASONS
Ideological - Anti-communism (therefore pro-fascism), avoid war at all costs
Economic Benefits - Treaty signed to allow British businesses to trade with Nationalists
Future Geopolitical/Strategic Benefits - Did not want civil war to affect relationships with Italy and Portugal
IMPACT
Focused on preventing the USSR from sending aid to the Republicans more than Germany and Italy providing aid to the Nationalists
Hastened conflict and encouraged a Nationalist victory with their “blind-eye” support
Discouraged Stalin from supporting the Republicans and forming an alliance after June 1938

18. Portugal IMPACT Uncompromised by the NIC
Sent 20,000 troops to the Nationalist cause
Re-supplied Nationalists along border
Provided communications base
Portugal’s long standing alliance with Britain, led Britain to be reluctant to betray them in supporting the Republicans, most certainly drawing Britain’s support closer to the Nationalist cause, very beneficial to Franco’s forces

19. France REASONS Ideological - Pursued solely humanitarian aid
Future Geopolitical/Strategic Benefits - Not ideal to have 3 neighboring right-wing states, but feared revolt and relied on Britain
IMPACT
Main staging point for Soviet aid
Significant blow to the Republicans without the French’s aid, polarized the politics of the civil war, leading to the Republicans being associated with “Soviet communism”

20. United States REASONS Ideological - Anti-communism
Economic Benefits - Allowed American industry to trade with Nationalist cause (Texaco and GM)
Future Geopolitical/Strategic Benefits - Appeasement of fascist dictators
IMPACT
Increased odds of a Nationalist victory with the supply of essential war materials such as oil and vehicles

21. International Brigades
Volunteer fighters for the Republicans staged out of France
Total number of combatants ranged from 32,000-35,000 active with as many as 10,000 non-active roles fulfilled
Many came from foreign communist parties with the first originating in the USSR
With the main recruitment center in Paris, volunteers were arranged with money and a passport and sent on a train or boat into Spain
Played large roles in the Siege of Madrid, Battle of Jarama, and the Battle of Guadalajara

22. Video