Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil War (18 July 1936 – 1 April 1939) was a civil war between Republicans and Nationalists. The war ended on 1 April 1939, when the last Republican troops surrendered. Francisco Franco became dictator of Spain until he died in 1975.
Spanish Civil War | |||||||
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Part of the Interwar period | |||||||
![]() Clockwise from top-left: members of the XI International Brigade at the Battle of Belchite; Granollers after being bombed by Nationalists aviation in 1938; Bombing of an airfield in Spanish Morocco; Republican soldiers at the siege of the Alcázar; Nationalist soldiers operating an anti-aircraft gun; The Lincoln Battalion | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Supported by: |
Supported by: | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
c. 500,000 total killed |
The civil war began after a pronunciamiento (revolt) against the Republican government by the Nationalists. The nationalists were supported by FE de las JONS, a far right political party. During this time, fascist General Francisco Franco and his nationalist troops wanted to take control of the Spanish Republic. The Army split, with about half of the troops being loyal to the Republic.
Many different groups worked together to help the democratic Spanish Republic stop Franco, including Basques, Catalans and other groups.

Foreign involvement
Support for Republicans
The Soviet Union, Mexico and French Third Republic sold the Republican weapons, the International Brigades was a left wing international militant group formed to fight Franco, many anti-fascist partisans internationally volunteered to fight against Franco, including people from the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Germany, and Italy.
Support for Nationalists
The governments of Nazi Germany, Kingdom of Italy and Second Portuguese Republic provided troops and supplies for Franco.
Death toll and atrocities
Around half-a-million people died in the war, and many atrocities were committed by both sides. The most famous atrocity was the bombing of Guernica. On 26 April 1937, the city was bombed by Legion Condor, a Nazi military unit working for Franco. It was the first time that an air bombing caused so many civilian casualties. The bombing was reported all over the world in newspapers and made people aware of the German involvement.
Spanish Civil War Media
On 12 April 1931, the Republicans won the elections and the Second Spanish Republic was proclaimed two days later. King Alfonso XIII went into exile.
General Emilio Mola was the chief planner of the coup.
Casares Quiroga was the prime minister in the two months leading up to the coup.
The assassination of José Calvo Sotelo, prominent parliamentary conservative, was a major catalyst for the coup.
Republican forces during the battle of Irún in 1936
Manuel Azaña was the intellectual leader of the Second Republic and headman of the Republican side during most of the Civil War.
Republican volunteers at Teruel, 1936
Militias of the Falange in Saragossa, October 1936
Related pages
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Thomas, Hugh. The Spanish Civil War. Penguin Books. London. 1977 (and later editions).
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Clodfelter 2017, p. 339.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Simkin, J. (2012). "Spanish Civil War". The Spanish Civil War Encyclopedia (Ser. Spanish Civil War). University of Sussex, Spartacus Educational E-Books.
- ↑ Manuel Álvaro Dueñas, 2009, p. 126.
- ↑ Casanova 1999