Carlists [ultra-Catholic monarchists].

Catholic Church.

Falange [fascist] Party.

Monarchists.

Anarcho-Syndicalists.

Basques.

Catalans.

Communists.

Marxists.

Republicans.

Socialists.

TheNational

Front[Nationalists]

TheNational

Front[Nationalists]

ThePopularFront

[Republicans]

ThePopularFront

[Republicans]

The Spanish Civil War:1936 - 1939

Francisco Franco

Nationalists

International Support

Check Check

Spain

Italian troops in Madrid

The Spanish Civil War:A Dress Rehearsal for WW II?

Pits Fascism vs. Communism:- Hitler backs the Fascist Nationalists, Stalin sends troops to support the Republican government

New Warfare Tactics unleashed:- Hitler unleashes Blitkrieg against the Republican Armies, tank divisions supported by infantry soldiers- Sends in the Luftwaffe to bomb the town of Guernica to the ground

Closer relationship between Hitler and Mussolini established:

- not formally allied at this point, but Mussolini proclaims both Italy and Germany as “Axis” powers- Mussolini hoped that by cooperating with Hitler, Italy would be able to secure its dominance in Southern Europe, while Hitler focused on Northern Europe and defying France and Britain

Lessons Learned-Hitler learns Britain and France were not prepared to oppose aggressive military action

-Stalin feels Britain and France may not honour the Locarno Pact and aid Soviet Union if Hitler attacks

- helps push Stalin to sign with Hitler in mid-1939

-Italy and Germany pushed closer together-British opinion now split:

-Labour party supports rearmament, while the Conservatives (Chamberlain) begin formulating plans of appeasement

“Guernica” by Pablo Picasso