The Spanish Civil War: The Opening Act of WWII

By Rodeline Belizaire

Does a Democracy (democratic nation) have an obligation to see democracy take develop in other places? Please explain your answer.

Preview

The Spanish Civil War(1936-1939), was a  military revolt against the elected Republican Government of Spain.

The Spanish Civil War: The Opening Act of WWII

The Causes

Polarization (division)The Spanish Civil War was the result of a extended period of national political unrest—unrest in a country where the gap between “left” and “right” was rapidly widening, and government had been unable to improve the poverty in which millions of its citizens lived.

“The Left”The new republican

government; urban dwellers/workers; loyalists; most agricultural laborers; many of the educated middle classes.

• Those who supported the elected government were called “republicans” (Loyalists) – left-wing liberals

Roman Catholic church; military; aristocracy (nobility –land owners), monarchists, most businessmen, and others.

Spanish Confederation of the Autonomous Right – a Spanish political party that saw itself as a protector of religion, family, and property.

Those who supported the military were called “nationalists” (Rebels) - right-wing conservatives.

The Politics of Spain -“The Right”

• New republican/democratic regime after the monarchy, proposed liberal political, Economic, and social changes:-Changes that would give a greater political

voice to the urban working class and the rural poor.

- Changes that called for land reform - Changes that called for the separation of

church and stateThese liberal changes threatened the Spanish

Hierarchy.

Democracy v. Fascism

Premier Francisco Largo Caballero

The Political and Military Players

General Francisco Franco

The military rebellion, led by General Francisco Franco began place on July 18, 1936.

Franco and his military expected a quick victory and takeover of the entire country.

The military however, did not anticipate the determination of the Spanish people ( Loyalists), who took up arms, to defend their ideals, and the hope of what Spain could become.

Military Rebellion

Franco and his military quickly realized that they were not going to win simply because they were “superior”.

They were in for a prolonged struggle against their own people and were uncertain of the outcome.

The military called on fascist dictatorships of Italy, Germany, and Portugal for assistance, and they soon began receiving both men and supplies from Benito Mussolini, Adolf Hitler, and Antonio Salazar.

Fascist Dictators Step In

Hitler and Mussolini

Antonio Salazar of Portugal

Salazar feared that if the Republicans won the war his own authoritarian government would be under threat.

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The dictators used Spain as the testing round for their new weapons

The Western Democracies adopted a policy of nonintervention

Spanish Civil War August -September 1936

Spanish Civil War October 1937

Spanish Civil War November 1938

On 27 February, the Great Britain and France recognized the Franco regime.

Francisco Franco proclaimed victory during a radio speech on April 1, 1939, when the last of the Republican forces surrendered.

Hitler invaded Poland on September 1, 1939, and led to the start of World War II.

Franco Proclaimed Victory

Why would a country ignore a clear humanitarian or international crisis?

Did the Western Democracies fail Spain?

Were western powers justified in not supporting the democratically elected government of Spain during the Spanish Civil War?

You Decide!