Spain+1930-1940

Spain 1930-1940

Megan Gibson and Alysa Williams Mrs. Story American History 7 January 2014

__Spain 1930-1940__ In the early 1930’s Spain was in a state of depression and needed a new leader. King Alfonso XIII allowed elections in the spring of 1931 and the country became a republic (Rice). The new republican leaders were ruthless and had many unjust ways of ruling. They allowed purges against liberals, leftists, and anyone else who tried to go against their cause (Rice). Their main goal was to make Spain a world power and dominate the citizens. Nationalists in spain were angered by the Republican rule and did not want them to continue to have power over the government. They felt their methods were too harsh and ruined the values of the country (Rice). After the Republican party won the election of 1936 the Nationalists started a rebellion (Rice.) The rebellion was led by Generals José y Sacanell Sanjurjo, Emilio Mola Vidal, Juan Yagüe, and [|Francisco Franco]. Only a week into the fighting, [|Adolf Hitler] agreed to supply the Nationalists with transports and fighter escorts to ferry Franco's troops from Morocco to Spain. This was crucial to the Nationalists because the Republicans controlled the navy (Rice). Italian troops also assisted the Nationalists and fought ruthlessly. After 3 years of battles and over half a million deaths, the Nationalists came to victory in 1939 and Francisco Franco came into power as a dictator (Beevor). His main goal was to maintain a traditional, catholic Spain and bring the economy into a powerful, functioning state (Beevor). This contributed to World War II because Hitler felt he could now control Spain and gain their territory. Franco almost immediately decided to side with Germany and Italy in order to obtain their help and resources to get out of the depression (Beevor). On March 27, 1939, Spain officially joined the [|Anti-Comintern Pact] with the Axis side (Beevor). After a brutal battle with France, Hitler demanded Franco to enter the war and support his troops. Franco resisted due to Hitler’s vague promises for new territory. He was worried that Spain was not yet strong enough, or financially stable to enter a war without many guarantees of land and supplies. Spain ultimately decided to stay neutral during the war, feeling that this would benefit the country and the people the most (“Spain: World War II”). They did, however, provide non-confrontational assistance to Italy and Germany by creating observation posts throughout Spanish Morocco, which allowed them to monitor shipments to the Allied powers and service German submarines (“Spain: World War II”). They had no relations with the US and tried their best to remain under the radar and away from most of the battles. The 1930’s were a time of great change for Spain. They went through depression, a revolution, and and a new dictatorship. The lack of stability is what ultimately divided the country. Spain was once a world power but after years of political corruption and economic downfall, they became incredibly weak.

Works Cited

Beevor, Anthony. The Spanish Civil War. New York: Peter Bedrick Books, 1983; raham, Helen. The

Spanish Republic at War, 1936–1939. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2002.

Rice, Roger L., and Tucker, Spencer C. "Spanish Civil War: World War II." World at War:

Understanding Conflict and Society. ABC-CLIO, 2014. Web. 9 Jan. 2014.

"Spain: World War II." World at War: Understanding Conflict and Society.ABC-CLIO, 2014.

Web. 9 Jan. 2014.

Spain Timeline 1930 to 1940

1930 - Spain falls into a very bad depression and is in a bad political state

Spring 1931- Spain becomes a Republic

February 1936- Republican party wins election, angering the nationalists

July 18, 1936 - Nationalists start a revolution, The Spanish Civil War begins

1937- The Spanish Civil War continues, Germany and Italy aid the Nationalist side

April 1937 - German and Italian aircrafts bomb Guernica

Winter 1939 - Nationalists win the Civil War and [|Francisco] Franco comes to power

Early 1940’s -Spain attempts to remain neutral in war but helps the Axis Powers by monitoring ports in Spanish Morocco



[Library of Congress] "Francisco Franco." Image. Library of Congress. World at War: Understanding Conflict and Society. ABC-CLIO, 2014. Web. 9 Jan. 2014



Spanish Civil War demonstration in New York. Press photo. Photograph by "Alexander, 177 Thompson Street, New York."

[|__http://www.english.illinois.edu/maps/depression/photoessay.htm__]



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