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In July 1936, a right-wing nationalist revolt by the army against the left-wing Republican government led to civil war. The conict became an ideological battleground for individuals and governments beyond Spain, and introduced a new and brutal form of warfare that would come to dene the 20th century.
Republicans
Foreign aid
Government, led by Socialist premiers Largo Caballero and Juan Negrin, and liberal president Manuel Azana. Supported by urban workers, majority of educated middle class, and militant communists and anarchists. Due to arms embargo by France and Britain, government could receive aid and purchase arms only from Soviet Union. Aid included planes, trained pilots, tanks and crew.
Nationalists
Foreign aid
Led by rebel army and supported by conservative clergy and landowners as well as fascist Falange. Both Fascist Italy under Benito Mussolini and Nazi Germany under Adolf Hitler (shown) sent troops, tanks, and planes, using Spain as testing ground for new methods of warfare.
La Coruna
Canadas role
Vigo
During the war, a beleaguered Spanish Government put out a call for help from international volunteers. 40,000 volunteers from 53 countries came forward to form International Brigades. 1,200 volunteers came from Canada. They formed the Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion (the Mac-Paps). Oct., 1937: Fuentes de Ebro; 60 killed, 200 wounded. Dec., 1937: Teruel July, 1938: Ebro By the end of the Spanish Civil War almost half of the Canadian volunteers had been killed. In April 1937 the Canadian government had passed the Foreign Enlistment Act, outlawing participation by Canadians in foreign wars. The Mac-Paps were considered an o cial embarrassment, and were left in obscurity until the 70s when a number of books, lms and plays documented their history.
Valladolid
Pamplona
GA L
Battles
FRANCE CATALONIA
Barcelona
Salamanca
PO
RT U
Zaragoza Madrid
10,000
Badajoz
400 600 1,000 1,000 1,000 1,200 1,200 1,500 1,700 2,500 2,500 3,500 4,000 5,000
SPAIN
Sevilla Cordoba Albacete Murcia Granada Malaga Tetuan Almeria Cartagena
Toledo
Castellon Valencia
Mediterranean Sea
International Brigades
Number of volunteers sent, by country
Alicante
A BALE
LAN RIC IS
July 1936
DS
Switzerland Holland Scandinavia Hungary Latin America Yugoslavia Canada Czechoslovakia Belgium Britain U.S. Italy Poland Germany France
1931
1936
1937
1938
1939
Feb., 1936: Left-wing party coalition regains power from right in elections
July 17-18: Army uprising rebels gain control over about one third of Spain
July 28: Italian and German planes airlift Francos army from Spanish Morocco to mainland in rst signicant military airlift in history
Nov.: Republican forces withstand major Nationalist o ensive on Madrid following arrival of aid from Soviet Union and International Brigades
Apr.: Jan. to Guernica Mar., 1937: Despite support destroyed from Italian May: Inghting troops, Franco among fails to capture Republican Madrid in two groups in separate Barcelona o ensives weakens city
June: Bilbao falls to Nationalists July: Nationalists repulse Republican countero ensive at Brunete Oct.: Gijon falls war in North ends
Feb.to Apr., 1938: After battle for Teruel, Nationalists reach Mediterranean, cutting Republican zone in two
July to Nov.: Battle of Ebro Republican forces launch all-out, but unsuccessful, campaign to reconnect territory
Jan. to Feb., 1939: Nationalists conquer Catalonia in whirlwind campaign Mar. 27: Madrid falls to Nationalists Apr. 1: Nationalist victory proclaimed