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 | |||||||
| 330px 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 | |||||||
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Supported by: |
Supported by: | ||||||
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| 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.
| Initial Nationalist zone — July 1936 Nationalist advance until September 1936 Nationalist advance until October 1937 Nationalist advance until November 1938 Nationalist advance until February 1939 Last area under Republican control 10px Main Nationalist centres 10px Main Republican centres | 25px Land battles 25px Naval battles 25px Bombed cities 25px Concentration camps File:Gatunek trujący.svg Massacres 10px Refugee camps |
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.
- Emilio Mola.jpg
General Emilio Mola was the chief planner of the coup.
- D. Santiago Casares Quiroga, Ministro de.jpg
Casares Quiroga was the prime minister in the two months leading up to the coup.
- José Calvo Sotelo, retrato en Vida Gallega 1936.jpg
The assassination of José Calvo Sotelo, prominent parliamentary conservative, was a major catalyst for the coup.
- Republican forces during the Battle of Irún.jpg
Republican forces during the battle of Irún in 1936
- Manuel Azaña, 1933.jpg
Manuel Azaña was the intellectual leader of the Second Republic and headman of the Republican side during most of the Civil War.
- Reemplazo republicano.jpg
Republican volunteers at Teruel, 1936
- Ambulancia.jpg
A mobile blood-transfusion service for front-line operations in Catalonia.
- Falange Members in Saragossa 1936 (Retouched).jpg
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