The Spanish Civil War
July 1936 – May 1939
What you need to know:
The Background to the Spanish Civil War
Who the two sides are
The official response to the civil war
The attitudes and involvement of the major
European countries
The opinions in Britain for and against
non-intervention
The consequences of the Spanish Civil
War in Europe.
Background to the Civil War
 Spain was a very backward country with very
few industries, it was primarily a peasant
economy.
 It was also a very religious country with a very
powerful Catholic Church.
 It also had the growing problem of separatist
groups; particularly Basques and Catalans.
Political Instability
 From 1923-30 Spain was
under the Dictatorship of
Primo De Rivera with
Alfonso XIII King. During
this time the country had
some modernisation but
was still largely backward
and like most countries
was hit hard by the Wall
Street Crash and the
depression which
followed.
 This was one of the
reasons why Rivera
resigned and Alfonso
abdicated his throne.
 In 1931 a republican government brought in
some reforms.
 This was replaced by a right wing government
characterised by riots and unrest.
 In 1936 elections were won by the Popular front
Government (a coalition of all left wing political
parties e.g Communists, Socialists, Anarchists)
who wanted radical reforms.
 In July a revolt of Army officers led to a civil war
(the prospect of radical reforms which would
most likely have lead to a loss of their influence)
The Two Sides
Nationalists
Led by General Franco
consisted the Army,
Church, Landowners and
right wing political groups
e.g Falange
Republicans
The elected government
who had the support
of some army officers
as well as workers,
peasants and left
wing political groups.
It is important not to view the
Spanish Civil War as a struggle
between Communism and Fascism.
It became associated with this
image as a result of the foreign
intervention in the war.
Why is the Civil War Important?
The Spanish Civil War is important to this
topic not for the events of the war but for
the attitudes towards the war of the other
European countries.
Britain’s policy towards the Spanish Civil
War is often viewed as another example of
appeasement.
European reaction to the war
• In December 1936 the League of Nations
agreed to a policy of non-intervention.
• The idea behind this policy was that all countries
would remain neutral and this included making it
illegal to give military aid or sell or send arms to
either side.
• Britain, France, Italy, Germany and Russia all
agreed to this.
• In practice, not all countries stuck to this
agreement.
France
Attitude
In 1936 France was ruled by a
popular front government
similar to Spain which was led
by Leon Blum
Non-Intervention policy suited
French; they wanted to support
the republicans but couldn’t
rely on British support, were
militarily unprepared and
financially committed to a
programme of social reform.
Involvement
Officially the French
government stuck to the
policy of non –
intervention.
Unofficially, Small amounts
of arms were smuggled
across the border by
French Trade Unionists to
help the Republicans
Italy
Attitude
Involvement
 Italians initially agreed to nonintervention.
 However Mussolini wanted to
support the nationalist side; he
was afraid that if they lost Italy
would be surrounded by popular
front governments.
 Another motive for involvement
was the raw materials available in
Spain.
 Add to this the chance to divert
Italian attention from the poor
living standards and high
unemployment rates.
 He also hoped to create a
nationalist puppet government
which would give him control of
the Mediterranean.
 Gave military aid to Franco
and the Nationalists.
 Between 1936 and 1938 the
Italians provided.
 50,000-100,000 troops – 6,000
killed.
 760 aircraft.
 950 tanks.
 91 ships.
 7.5 million rounds of
ammunition.
 80 million.
 In November 1936 Italy
officially recognised Franco’s
government.
Russia
Attitude
Involvement
 Stalin used the Civil War to
further his own foreign policy
aims.
 He was keen to prevent a
victory for Franco and the
Nationalists.
 However he was also keen to
prevent a communist
revolution as this would
damage his own relations with
Britain and France.
 Therefore he had to be seen to
be supporting the legally
elected government.
 Russia gave limited aid to the Popular
Front/Republican side in return for
Spain’s gold reserves.
-240 Planes
-800 tanks
-88million (in exchange for gold reserves)
-700 guns
-29,000 tons of ammunition
-Oil, tractors, technicians
 Russia also insisted that revolutionary
socialists and anarchists were
weakened. As a result many were
murdered.
 Supporters of Stalin were given a large
measure of power in organising the
International Brigades.
Germany
Attitude
Involvement
 Hitler was keen to help the spread of
any Fascist type regimes in Europe.
 Like Mussolini Hitler was keen to
prevent a popular front government in
Spain; he would feel ‘hemmed in’ by
Spain, France and Russia.
 Raw materials would help with
Germany’s rearmament plans.
 Spain as an ally would help control the
Mediterranean in a future war.
 It would also be a chance to try out
new weapons and methods. i.e
Blitzkreig
 It would also be a chance to get closer
links with Italy.
 Condor Legion under
command of General Von
Sperlle – 6,000 MEN
 43 million
 16,000 men – 300
killed/wounded
 Guernica April 26th 1937
1,700 killed 900 wounded
 100 planes
 16 tanks
Britain
Non-intervention was the ideal
policy for Baldwin’s
government.
As a conservative government,
they couldn’t be seen to be
supporting a popular front
government, but also couldn’t
be seen to be supporting a
nationalist side.
In addition to this Britain was not
militarily or financially capable
of getting involved.
Involvement
Britain stuck to the policy of nonintervention
International Brigades
These were volunteers from 53
different countries.
Wide range from intellectuals to
unemployed workers. They were
recruited and organised by
European Communist Parties
under the control of Russia.
About 60% of the 40,000 volunteers
had been Communist party
members.
Many were keen for the sense of
adventure and the chance to fight
against Fascist aggression
Brigades were forced to withdraw
when Stalin changed his policy –
this led to fall of Madrid and defeat
of the Republicans.
About 1/3 lost their lives
Around 2,000 British joined the
brigades
Bad luck, lack of uniforms and
equipment led to a loss of morale
amongst the Brigades
They were later incorporated into the
Republican Army
George Orwell,
one of the most
famous
International
Brigaders –
wrote – ‘Homage
to Catalonia’
Arguments in favour of NonIntervention
 In no position militarily/economically to go to war
 Guessed Franco would win and didn’t want to make an
enemy of him
 Didn’t trust France (“France can’t keep a secret for ten
mins or a government for ten months”)
 Scared a republican victory would mean a communist
government in Spain – investments in Spain would be
lost.
 There was no chance Britain could ever provide support
for the same side as Communist Russia “Russian
intervention ensured Britain and France remained
neutral”)
 Could potentially cause problems in
Mediterranean if Franco won and Britain had
supported the Republicans – it could affect
access to Britain’s empire in India.
 In the summer of 1936 most British people were
still worried that the Civil War could escalate into
a major European war. People were not ready
for that yet.
 Public opinion would not allow Britain to support
a side which was against the church (church in
Spain supported the Nationalists)
 There was sympathy amongst the British people
- but not a willingness to go to war.
In the interests of European peace the
British Government did not want to
antagonise Hitler or Mussolini.
Government firmly viewed the war as an
internal affair – to be left alone.
Footage and images of the bombing of
Guernica ensured the British people would
not want to get involved for fear of facing
the same fate.
Arguments against NonIntervention
 Some Catholic groups called for action – they
even raised funds for Franco’s side.
 Labour Party, TUC and Communists in Britain
were all involve din raising funds for the
Republican side.
 Volunteers went to fight for the International
Brigades, not full understanding the politics of
the Civil War but wanting to fight for ‘common
decency’
 Many believed it was a struggle against Fascism
and the government should do something.
Many believed it was a struggle against
Fascism and the government should do
something.
Many believed that Britain should be
compelled to get involved after realizing
how many other countries were breaking
non-intervention.
The Outcome of the War
 Barcelona was taken by
the rebels in January
1939 and the end of the
war was signalled by the
fall of Madrid in MARCH
1939.
 Thousands of Republican
soldiers fled across the
French border as Franco
and his army paraded
through the streets of
Barcelona.
Consequences of the SCW
 Democracy was discredited
 Fascism had triumphed
 Britain and France had shown themselves to be
weak by carrying on non-intervention despite the
fact that it was not working  “non-intervention inspired neither trust among
friends nor fear among enemies”
 Germany and Italy were brought closer together,
the Rome-Berlin Axis was signed in October
1936
Britain and France were divided; Even
within these countries there were political
divisions.
The weaknesses of appeasement were
shown.
The war was a testing ground for Hitler’s
Blitzkreig tactics.
“A climate of war” had been created Spain
had put the possibility of a European war
firmly on the agenda.
Spain, however, did not ally with Germany.
“An appeaser is
one who feeds a
crocodile—hoping
it will eat him
last“