what role did germany play in the spanish civil war

German involvement in the Spanish Civil War commenced with the outbreak of war in July 1936

, with Adolf Hitler immediately sending in powerful air and armored units to assist General Francisco Franco and his Nationalist forces.

Full Answer

How did Germany get involved in the Spanish Civil War?

German involvement in the Spanish Civil War commenced with the outbreak of war in July 1936, with Adolf Hitler immediately sending in powerful air and armored units to assist General Francisco Franco and his Nationalist forces.

What role did Soviet forces play in the Spanish Civil War?

Soviet forces were instrumental in helping the Spanish People's Republican Army (PRA) keep hold of the country’s main city throughout the entire war. Arriving on the scene in October-November 1936, when the city’s fate was on a knife edge, they rolled into battle at the crucial moment.

Did Hitler give aid to the Spanish Civil War?

Hitler continued to give aid but attempted to disguise this by sending the men, planes, tanks, and munitions via Portugal. Lieutenant Colonel Walther Warlimont of the German General Staff arrived as the German commander and military adviser to General Francisco Franco in September 1936.

Why did Hitler want to prolong the Spanish Civil War?

A perusal of the captured German documents makes plain that one of Hitler's purposes was to prolong the Spanish Civil War in order to keep the Western democracies and Italy at loggerheads and draw Mussolini toward him.

What side was Germany on in the Spanish Civil War?

NationalistsOnly a few nations took sides in the conflict: the Soviet Union's Communist government backed the Republicans, while Italy and Germany supported Franco's Nationalists. Although most nations did not take sides, some of their citizens did.

Why did Germany and Italy become involved in Spanish Civil War?

Western democracies such as Britain and France were reluctant to become involved in the Spanish Civil War for fear that they may escalate or broaden the conflict. Fascist Germany and Italy, however, were quick to aid the Nationalist side and played a key part in the defeat of the Republicans.

How was Germany involved in the civil war?

German-Americans were the largest ethnic contingent to fight for the Union in the American Civil War. More than 200,000 native-born Germans, along with another 250,000 1st-generation German-Americans, served in the Union Army, notably from New York, Wisconsin, and Ohio. Several thousand also fought for the Confederacy.

Why did Germany not invade Spain?

Hitler wanted an alliance with both Vichy France and Spain. Since he compromised when they requested stuff from him, neither was happy enough to become Hitler's ally. So basically the Germans didn't invade Spain since he considered them allies, but the allied powers didn't either as Spain was neutral.

Why did Germany become involved in the Spanish Civil War quizlet?

Why did Germany and Italy become involved in the Spanish Civil War? They wanted to back the Nationalists in Spain, who had similar political views.

Who caused the Spanish Civil War?

On July 18, 1936, troops under the leadership of General Francisco Franco began an uprising against the democratically elected government of Spain. This revolt quickly escalated into a civil war. The Spanish Civil War is sometimes called a prelude to World War II.

Who won Spanish Civil War?

The NationalistsThe Nationalists won the war, which ended in early 1939, and ruled Spain until Franco's death in November 1975.

Which countries stayed neutral in the Spanish Civil War?

Germany, Italy and the Soviet Union consistently broke the Non-Intervention Agreement, and France occasionally did so. Britain remained largely faithful to the agreement.

When did Italy get involved in the Spanish Civil War?

They took part in the fighting around Madrid and participated in the fall of Málaga in February 1937. By this time their numbers had increased to 30,000. There were also 20,000 members of the Italian Army fighting in Spain.

What were the two sides in the Spanish Civil War?

Children raise their fists to give the Republican salute during the Spanish Civil War. Republicans, supported by the Soviet Union, supported the democratically elected government of Spain, while the Nationalists, supported by Nazi Germany, supported the military junta that overthrew it.

What was the main cause of the Spanish Civil War?

The Spanish Civil War began on July 17, 1936, when generals Emilio Mola and Francisco Franco launched an uprising aimed at overthrowing the country's democratically elected republic. The Nationalist rebels' initial efforts to instigate military revolts throughout Spain only partially succeeded.

What was the Spanish Civil War?

Like most domestic conflicts it was a bitter internecine affair, full of propaganda, attrition and brutality against prisoners and civilians. From the beginning of the 1800s, Spain had endured a turbulent political history. For much of this time, it was a constitutional monarchy – but there were repeated attempts to unseat the king and establish a republic. Elections in 1931 saw control of the government pass to republicans and socialists. They proposed some radical reforms: the abolition of the monarchy, restrictions on the Catholic Church and improvements to the rights of workers and women. These reforms were met with hostility by conservatives – as well as the Spanish military, which had suffered from budget cuts by the new government.

Who won control of Spain in 1939?

Franco won control of Spain by 1939, but despite Hitler’s commitment to the Spanish Civil War, he was unable to secure a military alliance with Franco ’s government. Citation information. Title: “The Spanish Civil War”. Authors: Jennifer Llewellyn, Jim Southey, Steve Thompson.

How did Germany help the Nationalists?

They later became known as the Condor Legion. Over the coming months, German aircraft and personnel continued to assist the Nationalists: moving men and supplies, providing air cover for Nationalist ships in the Mediterranean, and carrying out bombing and strafing runs to support Franco’s ground troops. Germany also provided training for Nationalist officers, thousands of rifles and small arms, even a radio transmitter for broadcasting propaganda. In October, Hitler authorised the deployment of German submarines to assist Franco’s men. By the end of 1936, there were around 7,000 German troops and airmen fighting in Spain.

Why did Hitler support the Nationalists?

Hitler’s public justification for providing military support to the Nationalists was his desire to prevent communism taking hold in western Europe. Privately, the Fuhrer saw some clear advantages to a fascist government in Spain.

What were the advantages of the Fuhrer regime?

Germany could cultivate the Spanish as trading partners, suppliers of raw materials and iron ore, possibly even as military allies. France would be surrounded and held in check by a ‘fascist triangle’ of Germany, Italy and Spain.

How many people died in the Guernica bombing?

There is much debate about the death toll – Spanish, British and Soviet observers suggested the raid killed at least 800 people, the majority of them civilians.

What territories did the Nationalists control in 1937?

By early 1937 the Nationalists held the western half of Spain, as well as external territories like Morocco and the Canary Islands. It would take them another two years to capture the rest of Spain from the Republicans. Fighting for major cities such as Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia proved particularly fierce.

When did the Spanish Civil War start?

The Spanish Civil War began after the fall of the Spanish monarchy, replaced with the Second Republic in 1931. While tensions and social turmoil already ran rampant within the new republic, the civil war itself began in 1936, when the military revolted against the new government.

Why did the rightists rebel in Spain?

Because of this, the army in Spain and in Morocco (part of which was a Spanish colony) rebelled in an attempt to take over the government. At this time, both Italy and Germany were, of course, ruled by fascist dictators. Fascists are to the far right in political terms. They are very much opposed to socialism and communism. For this reason, both Germany and Italy sent troops and air forces to Spain to help the nationalists. They helped to do things like ferrying rebel troops from Morocco to Spain. German involvement in the war is most connected in history to the use of the German Condor Legion which bombed Spanish cities, the most famous of which was Guernica.

What was the role of Spain in the Spanish conflict?

The role played by the Spanish conflict as regards Italy's relations with France and England could be similar to that of the Abyssinian conflict, bringing out clearly the actual, opposing interests of the powers and thus preventing Italy from being drawn into the net of the Western powers and used for their machinations. The struggle for dominant political influence in Spain lays bare the natural opposition between Italy and France; at the same time the position of Italy as a power in the western Mediterranean comes into competition with that of Britain. All the more clearly will Italy recognize the advisability of confronting the Western powers shoulder to shoulder with Germany.

What would a fascist Spain do to Germany?

That is to say, a 'Fascist' Spain would, for Germany, be a means of 'turning the French flank' and of playing a part in the Mediterranean. On the Spanish mainland Germany disposed of a numerous and extremely well-organised branch of the National Socialist party.

How did Germany help Franco?

In the course of the next three years Germany sent men and military supplies, including experts and technicians of all kinds and the famous Condor Air Legion. German aid to Franco was never on a major scale, never sufficient to win the war for him or even to equal the forces sent by Mussolini, which in March 1937 reached the figure of sixty to seventy thousand men. Hitler's policy, unlike Mussolini's, was not to secure Franco's victory, but to prolong the war. In April 1939, an official of the German Economic Policy Department, trying to reckon what Germany had spent on help to Franco up to that date, gave a round figure of five hundred million Reichsmarks, not a large sum by comparison with the amounts spent on rearmament. But the advantages Germany secured in return were disproportionate - economic advantages (valuable sources of raw materials in Spanish mines); useful experience in training her airmen and testing equipment such as tanks in battle conditions; above all, strategic and political advantages.

What countries did Hitler help?

In September 1936 a Non-Intervention Agreement was drawn-up in London and signed by 27 countries including Germany, Britain, France, the Soviet Union and Italy. Hitler continued to give aid but attempted to disguise this by sending the men, planes, tanks, and munitions via Portugal.

Why did Hitler want to save Europe?

Hitler justified his decision by arguing that he was attempting to save Europe from "communist barbarism". Another reason was that it brought Germany closer to Italy, a country that was also supporting the military uprising in Spain. Hitler also knew that a Nationalist victory would give him an important ally in his struggle with Britain and France. He was especially interested in obtaining iron, copper, mercury and pyrites from Spain for his armaments industry.

Why was Hitler interested in obtaining iron, copper, mercury and pyrites from Spain?

He was especially interested in obtaining iron, copper, mercury and pyrites from Spain for his armaments industry . Another factor in Hitler's decision was that providing military aid to the Nationalist Army would give him the opportunity to test out his commanders, weapons and tactics.

Who did Hitler tell Franco that Germany would support his rebellion?

Adolf Hitler did not agree with Neurath and after consulting with Herman Goering, Wilhelm Canaris and Werner von Blomberg, he told General Francisco Franco on 26th July 1936 that Germany would support his rebellion.

When was the Spanish Civil War?

For the history book by Hugh Thomas, see The Spanish Civil War (book). The Spanish Civil War ( Spanish: Guerra Civil Española) was a civil war in Spain fought from 1936 to 1939.

What were the main causes of the Spanish Civil War?

The war was cast by Republican sympathisers as a struggle between tyranny and freedom, and by Nationalist supporters as communist and anarchist red hordes versus Christian civilisation. Nationalists also claimed they were bringing security and direction to an ungoverned and lawless country. Spanish politics, especially on the left, was quite fragmented: on the one hand socialists and communists supported the republic but on the other, during the republic, anarchists had mixed opinions, though both major groups opposed the Nationalists during the Civil War; the latter, in contrast, were united by their fervent opposition to the Republican government and presented a more unified front.

How many executions did Franco have in the first three months of the war?

The first three months of the war were the bloodiest, with 50 to 70 percent of all executions carried out by Franco's regime, from 1936 to 1975, occurring during this period. The first few months of killings lacked much in the way of centralisation, being largely in the hands of local commanders.

How much did the Spanish military spend during the Civil War?

During the Civil War the Nationalist and Republican military expenditures combined totalled some $3.89bn, on average $1.44bn annually. The overall Nationalist expenditures are calculated at $2.04bn, while the Republican ones reached ca. $1,85bn. In comparison, in 1936–1938 the French military expenditure totalled $0.87bn, the Italian ones reached $2.64bn, and the British ones stood at $4.13bn. As in the mid-1930s the Spanish GDP was much smaller than the Italian, French or British ones, and as in the Second Republic the annual defence and security budget was usually around $0,13bn (total annual governmental spendings were close to $0.65bn), wartime military expenditures put huge strain on the Spanish economy. Financing the war posed enormous challenge for both the Nationalists and the Republicans.

How did the Soviet Union help the Republicans?

Although General Secretary Joseph Stalin had signed the Non-Intervention Agreement, the Soviet Union contravened the League of Nations embargo by providing material assistance to the Republican forces, becoming their only source of major weapons. Unlike Hitler and Mussolini, Stalin tried to do this covertly. Estimates of material provided by the USSR to the Republicans vary between 634 and 806 aircraft, 331 and 362 tanks and 1,034 to 1,895 artillery pieces. Stalin also created Section X of the Soviet Union military to head the weapons shipment operation, called Operation X. Despite Stalin's interest in aiding the Republicans, the quality of arms was inconsistent. Many rifles and field guns provided were old, obsolete or otherwise of limited use (some dated back to the 1860s) but the T-26 and BT-5 tanks were modern and effective in combat. The Soviet Union supplied aircraft that were in current service with their own forces but the aircraft provided by Germany to the Nationalists proved superior by the end of the war.

What was the Spanish government like in the 19th century?

The 19th century was a turbulent time for Spain. Those in favour of reforming Spain's government vied for political power with conservatives, who tried to prevent reforms. Some liberals, in a tradition that started with the Spanish Constitution of 1812, sought to limit the power of the monarchy of Spain and to establish a liberal state. The reforms of 1812 were overturned when King Ferdinand VII dissolved the Constitution and ended the Trienio Liberal government. Twelve successful coups were carried out between 1814 and 1874. Until the 1850s, the economy of Spain was primarily based on agriculture. There was little development of a bourgeois industrial or commercial class. The land-based oligarchy remained powerful; a small number of people held large estates called latifundia as well as all the important government positions.

Why did the French government not send arms to the Republicans?

Fearing it might spark a civil war inside France, the leftist "Popular Front" government in France did not send direct support to the Republicans. French Prime Minister Léon Blum was sympathetic to the republic, fearing that the success of Nationalist forces in Spain would result in the creation of an ally state of Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy, an alliance that would nearly encircle France. Right-wing politicians opposed any aid and attacked the Blum government. In July 1936, British officials convinced Blum not to send arms to the Republicans and, on 27 July, the French government declared that it would not send military aid, technology or forces to assist the Republican forces. However, Blum made clear that France reserved the right to provide aid should it wish to the Republic: "We could have delivered arms to the Spanish Government [Republicans], a legitimate government... We have not done so, in order not to give an excuse to those who would be tempted to send arms to the rebels [Nationalists]."

What was the Spanish Civil War?

The Spanish Civil War, begun in July 1936, was a preliminary round of World War II. Hitler’s and Mussolini’s cooperation with General Franco resulted in the Axis agreement of October 1936 and the subsequent Pact of Steel of May 1939, immediately following the end of the Civil War.

Did Hitler pursue territorial gains in Eastern Europe?

While the last great cause drew all eyes to Western Europe and divided the British and especially the French internally, Hitler could pursue territorial gains in Eastern Europe. This book, based on little-known German records and recently opened Spanish archives, fills a major gap in our understanding of one of the 20th century’s most significant ...

What was the Spanish Civil War?

Spanish Civil War = Russian Civil War 2.0. The Russian Civil War (1918-1922) split the country into several irreconcilable camps, but roughly speaking, most combatants sided either with the “Reds” (Communist) or the “Whites” (pro-Tsarist and anti-Communist).

What were some interesting facts about the Soviet involvement in the Spanish Civil War?

5 facts about the Soviet involvement in the Spanish Civil War that you (probably) didn’t know. Three T-26 light tanks made in the Soviet Union travel through a field during a battle in Spain, during the Spanish Civil War. Spain's brutal civil conflict gave the Soviet military an opportunity to test its combat readiness in the event ...

What did Franco hate?

For the rest of his life, the Spanish leader Francisco Franco harboured a deep hatred for all things Soviet, making no exception for sport . At the 1960 European Nations’ Cup soccer tournament (the forerunner of the European Championship), the Soviet team was due to face Spain in the 1/4 finals.

What did the Spanish boycott mean?

The Spanish boycott meant that the Soviets received an automatic bye. Having waltzed past Czechoslovakia in the semis and overcome Yugoslavia in the final, the Soviet players were crowned champions of Europe — largely thanks to Franco.

How many Russians fought in the Spanish Civil War?

More than 300 Russians fought in the International Brigades in the Spanish Civil War. After the war, most were interned in camps in France. By no means all of them longed to return to the now Bolshevik Russia, but for the few dozen that did, the Soviet consulate issued exit permits.

What happened to the Soviet tank in 1938?

In March 1938, a Soviet BT-5 light tank found itself outnumbered by a group of German T-1s. Damage to the sight and observation instruments meant that the Soviet machine could no longer fire effectively at the enemy. It was then that Commander Alexei Razgulyaev decided to turn his tank into a battering ram.

Did Franco allow the Spanish national team to travel to Moscow?

The Soviet team, also highly rated, were licking their lips at the prospect of battling the Spaniards in a less violent arena, but Franco put a stop to it, refus ing to allow the Spanish national team to travel to Moscow for the first leg of the tie.