The Spanish Civil War started in 1936 and finished in 1939.
The forces on the right were lead by Generals Franco and Sanjurjo and were backed by the army, monarchists, landowners, employers and the roman catholic church. They were known as Nationalists. The forces on the left were lead by Azana and were known as Republicans. They were comprised of peasants, workers, socialists and the trade unions.
The cause of the civil war started when the military dictatorship that had been in power collapsed because of the great depression. However, the final straw was when the King abdicated when the republicans came to power.
The Nationalists received help from Nazi Germany in the form of the Condor Legion from the Luftwaffe – Germany’s air force. 50,000 “volunteers” from Mussolini’s Italy also helped the Nationalists.
The Republicans received help from Russia. Stalin sent advisers and technicians. An International Brigade comprising of volunteers from all over the world also helped the Republicans.
The reason Spain was getting so much support from other countries was it's key position next to France. If the nationalists won then France would be surrounded by three fascist powers (Germany, Italy) and be easy pickings. If France falls then the alliances between the other anti-fascist nation would be weakened.
Another reason Spain was considered so important was it's naval bases in the Mediterranean sea and the Atlantic ocean that could be used by Fascists to control shipping and setting up submarine bases, thus allowing them to put extreme military and economic pressure on other European nations.
The forces on the right were lead by Generals Franco and Sanjurjo and were backed by the army, monarchists, landowners, employers and the roman catholic church. They were known as Nationalists. The forces on the left were lead by Azana and were known as Republicans. They were comprised of peasants, workers, socialists and the trade unions.
The cause of the civil war started when the military dictatorship that had been in power collapsed because of the great depression. However, the final straw was when the King abdicated when the republicans came to power.
The Nationalists received help from Nazi Germany in the form of the Condor Legion from the Luftwaffe – Germany’s air force. 50,000 “volunteers” from Mussolini’s Italy also helped the Nationalists.
The Republicans received help from Russia. Stalin sent advisers and technicians. An International Brigade comprising of volunteers from all over the world also helped the Republicans.
The reason Spain was getting so much support from other countries was it's key position next to France. If the nationalists won then France would be surrounded by three fascist powers (Germany, Italy) and be easy pickings. If France falls then the alliances between the other anti-fascist nation would be weakened.
Another reason Spain was considered so important was it's naval bases in the Mediterranean sea and the Atlantic ocean that could be used by Fascists to control shipping and setting up submarine bases, thus allowing them to put extreme military and economic pressure on other European nations.