Spanish Civil Spanish Civil WarWar

The Falange Espanola: Spanish The Falange Espanola: Spanish FascismFascism

Fascism reared its ugly headFascism reared its ugly head

Similar to Nazi party and Italian Fascist Similar to Nazi party and Italian Fascist partyparty

Anti-parliamentary and sought one-Anti-parliamentary and sought one-party ruleparty rule

Not racist but attached importance to Not racist but attached importance to Roman Catholic ChurchRoman Catholic Church

Elections held in 1934 brought in a Elections held in 1934 brought in a Conservative governmentConservative government

Popular Fronts: alliances of the leftPopular Fronts: alliances of the left

In Feb 1936, elections in Spain returned In Feb 1936, elections in Spain returned an alliance of Republicans, Socialists an alliance of Republicans, Socialists and Communistsand Communists

This was the sparkThis was the spark that lit the fires of that lit the fires of civil war in Spaincivil war in Spain

The WarThe War

Ministers of government were all Ministers of government were all moderates-no communists were electedmoderates-no communists were elected

However the rightHowever the right reacted violently and reacted violently and resorted to terrorism which provoked the resorted to terrorism which provoked the communistscommunists

Judges or journalists who condemned Judges or journalists who condemned the fascists were assassinatedthe fascists were assassinated

The groups that took advantage of this The groups that took advantage of this civil unrest were the army officers, the civil unrest were the army officers, the traditionalists and the monarchiststraditionalists and the monarchists

Revolt took place in Morocco and Revolt took place in Morocco and throughout Spain led by General throughout Spain led by General Sanjurjo, he was killed in a plane crash Sanjurjo, he was killed in a plane crash and replaced by General Francisco and replaced by General Francisco FrancoFranco

FrancoFranco

Franco had the support of the fascists- Franco had the support of the fascists- Falange but they were unable to seize Falange but they were unable to seize power for 3 reasonspower for 3 reasons

Mass of Spanish people resisted the revolt Mass of Spanish people resisted the revolt and fought it for three yearsand fought it for three years

Foreign powers saw it as a struggle Foreign powers saw it as a struggle between Fascism and democracy or between Fascism and democracy or socialismsocialism

Republicans v NationalistsRepublicans v Nationalists

On paper the Nationalists had the On paper the Nationalists had the advantage- superior military strength and advantage- superior military strength and experienceexperience

However navy divided, each side had one However navy divided, each side had one battleship- navy officers were battleship- navy officers were nationalists/sailors were republicansnationalists/sailors were republicans

The Republican side consisted of a few The Republican side consisted of a few army officers, workers and peasants, army officers, workers and peasants, Basques and Catalans, they held Basques and Catalans, they held important industrial areasimportant industrial areas

Republicans v NationalistsRepublicans v Nationalists

By the end of 1936 the Nationalists held By the end of 1936 the Nationalists held more than half of Spain, mostly in the more than half of Spain, mostly in the South, west and NorthSouth, west and North

Franco proclaimed himself the ‘chief of Franco proclaimed himself the ‘chief of the Spanish state’ the Spanish state’

The Republicans led by Largo Caballero The Republicans led by Largo Caballero held all eastern and south-east Spainheld all eastern and south-east Spain

If there had been no foreign intervention If there had been no foreign intervention it seems likely that the republicans it seems likely that the republicans would have won as they had the bulk of would have won as they had the bulk of the populationthe population

The fightingThe fighting

Both sides Fought furiously and atrocities Both sides Fought furiously and atrocities were common e.g. priests were shot, were common e.g. priests were shot, families were dividedfamilies were divided

In Republican areas different factions were In Republican areas different factions were in control, workers took over factories, in control, workers took over factories, churches were burned down, middle class churches were burned down, middle class people stayed out of sight or went people stayed out of sight or went unshaven to avoid identificationunshaven to avoid identification

Progress of the Spanish Civil warProgress of the Spanish Civil war

Winter 1936-37: Nationalists attack MadridWinter 1936-37: Nationalists attack Madrid Spring 1937: a wedge is driven between the Spring 1937: a wedge is driven between the

Basques and CatalansBasques and Catalans Summer 1937: attack on the Basques, Summer 1937: attack on the Basques,

Guernica bombed by the German Condor Guernica bombed by the German Condor legionlegion

Early 1938:Teruel captured, nationalists Early 1938:Teruel captured, nationalists driveto separate Barcelona (Catalonia) from driveto separate Barcelona (Catalonia) from MadridMadrid

Summer 1938-1938: Barcelona fell Summer 1938-1938: Barcelona fell Feb 1939: Madrid fell late MarchFeb 1939: Madrid fell late March

Fascist InterventionFascist Intervention

Germany provided Junker transport Germany provided Junker transport planes which kept Franco’s forces in the planes which kept Franco’s forces in the war in the early stageswar in the early stages

In 1936 Germany and Italy officially In 1936 Germany and Italy officially recognised Franco’s regime and recognised Franco’s regime and expected a rapid victoryexpected a rapid victory

The Republicans organised the The Republicans organised the defence of Madriddefence of Madrid

Reinforcements sent were the Reinforcements sent were the first of the International first of the International BrigadesBrigades

Recruited from left wing Recruited from left wing opponents of Fascismopponents of Fascism

Some had fought in the war Some had fought in the war others had no military trainingothers had no military training

British InterventionBritish Intervention

Men came from all over including Germany, Men came from all over including Germany, Italy and Scotland (500) they gave up their Italy and Scotland (500) they gave up their jobs if they had one and made their own way jobs if they had one and made their own way to Paristo Paris

Towards the end of 1938 the Brigades Towards the end of 1938 the Brigades withdrew because of a league of Nations withdrew because of a league of Nations peace initiative, many men had died peace initiative, many men had died including about 540 from Britainincluding about 540 from Britain

British InterventionBritish Intervention

Throughout the non-Fascist world, Throughout the non-Fascist world, collections were organised to send collections were organised to send humanitarian aid to Republican humanitarian aid to Republican SpainSpain

including the Labour party, TUC and including the Labour party, TUC and Communists in Britain and Russia Communists in Britain and Russia sent fighter planes to the sent fighter planes to the Republicans to balance the Republicans to balance the assistance from Germany and Italyassistance from Germany and Italy

France and Britain: Policy of France and Britain: Policy of Non-InterventionNon-Intervention

Britain made it clear to France Britain made it clear to France however that it would not help however that it would not help against Germany as promised in against Germany as promised in the Locarno Pact if Blum was to the Locarno Pact if Blum was to help Spainhelp Spain

France suggested a policy of non-France suggested a policy of non-intervention, Britain seized this intervention, Britain seized this with enthusiasm later referring to with enthusiasm later referring to it as France’s ideait as France’s idea

British attitudes to the warBritish attitudes to the war Britain took the initiative in setting up a ‘Non Britain took the initiative in setting up a ‘Non

Intervention Committee’ including France, Italy, Intervention Committee’ including France, Italy, Germany and RussiaGermany and Russia

The Republicans at this point thought they could The Republicans at this point thought they could winwin

Baldwin’s largely Conservative government Baldwin’s largely Conservative government thought that Franco was going to win and did thought that Franco was going to win and did not want to make an enemy of himnot want to make an enemy of him

They viewed the Republicans as Communist They viewed the Republicans as Communist rather than democratic, feared impact on trade rather than democratic, feared impact on trade of ‘Red Spain’of ‘Red Spain’

Why Non-Intervention?Why Non-Intervention? The British government did not want to The British government did not want to

antagonise Mussolini further in the hope antagonise Mussolini further in the hope he would help against Hitlerhe would help against Hitler

‘‘the bomber will always get through’the bomber will always get through’

Britain and France were losing their Britain and France were losing their chance to stop the ‘advance of Fascism’chance to stop the ‘advance of Fascism’

Spanish Civil Spanish Civil WarWar

Attitudes to the WarAttitudes to the War

League of NationsLeague of Nations

Republicans claimed non-Republicans claimed non-intervention was illegal since it intervention was illegal since it denied help to a government denied help to a government recognised by the league, while recognised by the league, while failing to stop Italian and German failing to stop Italian and German aggressionaggression

League however was now a spent League however was now a spent force, none of the major powers even force, none of the major powers even pretended to operate through itpretended to operate through it

The Nyon ConferenceThe Nyon Conference The ‘Non-intervention Committee’ set The ‘Non-intervention Committee’ set

up naval blockade to stop weapons up naval blockade to stop weapons getting into Spaingetting into Spain

Soviet Attitudes to the warSoviet Attitudes to the war

Stalin provided the Republicans with just Stalin provided the Republicans with just enough aid to keep them goingenough aid to keep them going

He knew that he could not win the war as He knew that he could not win the war as a communist government would not be a communist government would not be acceptedaccepted

However, whilst Germany and Italy were However, whilst Germany and Italy were busy in Spain they could not attack Russia busy in Spain they could not attack Russia

Therefore he wanted the war to last as Therefore he wanted the war to last as long as possiblelong as possible

Nazi Germany’s attitudeNazi Germany’s attitude

Used Spanish war as testing ground for Used Spanish war as testing ground for his air force his air force

Hitler was happy to see Italy tied up so Hitler was happy to see Italy tied up so he was free to act in Austriahe was free to act in Austria

Fascist Italy’s motivesFascist Italy’s motives

Hoped to establish the Mediterranean as Hoped to establish the Mediterranean as an Italian sphere of influencean Italian sphere of influence

Shared the same ideology as FrancoShared the same ideology as Franco

Cost of Civil warCost of Civil war

Cost- Spain one million deadCost- Spain one million dead Destruction of citiesDestruction of cities Franco established himself in power Franco established himself in power

where he long survived his sponsors, where he long survived his sponsors, Mussolini and Hitler until his death in Mussolini and Hitler until his death in 1975Franco’s victory was another triumph 1975Franco’s victory was another triumph for Hitler, ignored non-intervention which for Hitler, ignored non-intervention which was the policy of the leaguewas the policy of the league

Democracy had again been discredited Democracy had again been discredited and authoritarian Fascism appeared and authoritarian Fascism appeared triumphanttriumphant

Consequences of victoryConsequences of victory Hitler was pleased to have another ally Hitler was pleased to have another ally

on France’s southern borderon France’s southern border Although Spain was exhausted by the Although Spain was exhausted by the

civil war and remained neutral in WW2civil war and remained neutral in WW2 Rome-Berlin Axis was a reality, Germany Rome-Berlin Axis was a reality, Germany

and Italy able to work togetherand Italy able to work together Weakness of appeasement again shownWeakness of appeasement again shown

Testing ground for new weapons and Testing ground for new weapons and tacticstactics

Hitler now ready to take his next step Hitler now ready to take his next step Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia