The Spanish Civil War THE CONSEQUENCES OF NON-INTERVENTION

““A leaky dam but better than no A leaky dam but better than no dam”dam”

Anthony Eden, Foreign Secretary 1935-1938

AJP Taylor – Origins of the Spanish Civil War

• According to AJP Taylor, these are the main consequences of the Spanish Civil War

1. Politicians became distracted by the Spanish Civil War,they ceased to consider how Hitler should be checked

2. There was political division amongst the political parties & politicians in Britain & France

3. Greater division between Britain & Russia. The British wanted a quick end to the war and felt that Russia prolonged it by sending aid.

4. Some British politicians felt that Russia intervened to promote International Communism

5. The National Government in Britain was criticised by the Liberals & Labour for “betraying the democratic cause”. They pointed out the flaws of Non-Intervention i.e that Germany & Italy ignored it and continued to send aid.

Other Consequences• Democracy was discredited and Fascism won through. National opinion was

divided.

• Hitler again showed that he could ignore the Democratic powers and get away with it. Hitler did this by ignoring Non-Intervention & sending aid to Franco.

• France was encircled by Fascist powers

• Italy & Germany became closer after the war. They made this official by signing the Rome-Berlin Axis. The Stresa Front of 1935, where Italy, Britain & France signed a friendly agreement was well and truly dead.

• Hitler had another Fascist ally (Spain remained neutral in WWII though)

• Spanish Civil War showed the weakness of appeasement - giving in to dictators in the hope that this would make them satisfied powers.

• The war was a testing ground for the Fascist powers (especially Germany) to try out their new weapons and tactics. The Luftwaffe gained experience in bombing Spanish cities (Guernica – by Condor Legion) – “The bomber will always get through”