The Spanish Civil War: The Opening Act of WWII

1. The Spanish Civil War: The Opening Act of WWII By Rodeline Belizaire

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

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

4. The Causes

5. 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.

6. The Politics of Spain - “The Left” “The Right” • 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.

7. Democracy v. Fascism • 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 state • These liberal changes threatened the Spanish Hierarchy.

8. The Political and Military Players Premier Francisco Largo Caballero General Francisco Franco

9. Military Rebellion • 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.

10. Fascist Dictators Step In • 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.

11. Hitler and Mussolini

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

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

14. The Western Democracies adopted a policy of nonintervention

15. Spanish Civil War August -September 1936

16. Spanish Civil War October 1937

17. Spanish Civil War November 1938

18. Franco Proclaimed Victory • 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.

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

20. Did the Western Democracies fail Spain?

21. You Decide! • Were western powers justified in not supporting the democratically elected government of Spain during the Spanish Civil War?