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The Spanish Civil War, fought from 1936 to 1939, was a brutal conflict that deeply divided Spain. The war broke out after a failed military coup in July 1936 against the Republican government, a coalition of left-leaning groups including socialists, communists, anarchists, and republicans. These factions had previously struggled against each other, but they came together to resist the uprising led by conservative generals, including Emilio Mola, José Sanjurjo, and Francisco Franco, who emerged as the primary leader of the Nationalist faction.
General map of the Spanish Civil War (1936–39). @ FDRMRZUSA
The coup was partially successful, with Nationalist forces gaining control in several regions, particularly in the south and west, while the major cities—such as Madrid and Barcelona—remained under Republican control. Spain was now split, and the conflict quickly became a civil war. The Nationalists were supported by fascist regimes in Italy and Nazi Germany, who provided military assistance, while the Republicans received aid from the Soviet Union and Mexico. The rest of Europe and the United States officially remained neutral, though many volunteers from these countries joined the International Brigades to fight for the Republican cause.
As the war progressed, Franco's Nationalist forces steadily gained ground. They captured the northern coastline in 1937 and laid siege to Madrid, slowly tightening their grip on the country. The Nationalists' victory was facilitated by divisions within the Republican side, which was plagued by internal strife among communists, anarchists, and other leftist factions. Internationally, the conflict was seen as a battle between fascism and communism, and some even referred to it as a prelude to World War II.
In early 1939, with Catalonia under Nationalist control and Barcelona having fallen without resistance, the war was effectively over. The Republicans were weakened by infighting, culminating in a military coup led by Colonel Segismundo Casado, who sought peace with Franco. However, Franco rejected any peace negotiations. In March 1939, his forces entered Madrid, and by April 1, he officially declared victory.
The aftermath of the war was marked by harsh reprisals. Hundreds of thousands of Republican supporters fled to France, while those who remained faced persecution and execution by Franco's regime. Franco consolidated his power, establishing a dictatorship that would last until his death in 1975. The Spanish Civil War left deep scars on the country and became infamous for the atrocities committed by both sides, with purges and mass executions carried out in Nationalist and Republican territories alike.
The war also resonated worldwide, as it reflected the broader ideological battle between fascism and communism, capturing the attention of foreign governments and volunteers. For many, the conflict symbolized the intense political struggles of the 20th century, and it foreshadowed the global war that would soon follow.