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

2. Spanish Civil War 1936-39 1. Dates of events 6. Significance
2. What happened
Spanish Civil War
5. British public opinion – majority/minority
3. Reaction of British govt.
4. Reaction of French govt.

3. Spanish Civil War What you will need to know
Who the 2 sides in the war were
Foreign intervention
- why
- actions taken
- impact on war
- impact on diplomatic relations
- importance for powers
What you don’t need to know
Spanish history up to war
Details of events in Spain
Outcome for Spain

4. 2 Sides in Spain Landowners Peasants & town workers Catholic church
POPULAR FRONT – REPUBLICAN
(L.W.) Government
NATIONALISTS
(R.W.) Rebels
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
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)

6. 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

7. Foreign Intervention GERMANY
SUPPORT
Franco (RW) 30 Junker planes flew troops from Morocco
Grew in confidence and quantity as war progressed.
Provided troops – up to at a time, tanks, aircraft, warships
Britain and France did not oppose
WHY
Ideological - Crusade against Bolshevism(LW) – support fascism
Military Practice ground for new military tactics &
technology
Political Break Stresa – Win Mussolini, aid Anchluss
Economic - Spanish iron ore

8. Foreign Intervention ITALY 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 Europe
Military Wanted naval bases in Balearics
Political Boost domestic prestige

10. Foreign Intervention RUSSIA 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

11. 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.