Spanish Civil War: Causes, Key Players, and Aftermath
Major World Powers and the Spanish Civil War
Republican Support
Progressives favored the Republic. The Soviet Union and Mexico supported the Republic, while democratic forces and fascist governments believed that supporting the Republic would slow the spread of communism westward. The papacy also favored Franco. Both sides received outside help. The rebels sent agents to ask for support. The Republic asked for help from France, Britain, and the U.S., but they refused, fearing it would start an international conflict. Great Britain initiated a policy of appeasement, and France established the Non-Intervention Committee.
International Involvement
Despite the Non-Intervention Committee, the Republic did receive support. The Soviet Union sold weapons to the Republicans, as Largo Caballero sent the gold reserves of the Bank of Spain. Mexico sent aid from public coffers, and the International Brigades, a left-wing brigade, sent 60,000 progressives. France, Britain, and the U.S. remained neutral, while the American president proclaimed a pro-fascist stance. The Nationalists gave weapons to the insurgents. Germany sent the Condor Legion, its air force, and Italy sent its unit, the Corpo Truppe Volontarie.
Consequences of the Spanish Civil War
A large number of dead and missing, nearly a million, were killed on the battlefield, shot, or killed by both sides. During the Franco regime, war-related deaths continued, and poor conditions led to several exiles and prisoners due to fear of repression. Exiles fled to France, Mexico, North Africa, the Soviet Union, or Latin America. The exile affected the economy and cultural life. Repression included prisoners in concentration camps, sentences to hard labor, such as the Valley of the Fallen, “moles”, purges, people driven from the Republican administration, and the appearance of the maquis, or guerrillas, in the mountains.
Economic Impact
Economic losses included the decline of the working population, the costs of war, the destruction of buildings, and the decline in production in all sectors. It also delayed the economic growth rate. On the other hand, landowners and the Church became hegemonic elements in Franco’s society. Businesses were created in the rebel areas, and ex-combatants collaborated, receiving grants and administration posts.
Differences Between the Republican and Rebel Zones
During the war, there were differences between the Republican and the rebel zones. On the Republican side, a complex situation arose because the left sought to start a social revolution while also needing to win the war. During the war, there were three governments: that of José Giral, Largo Caballero, and Negrín. To defeat the insurgency, José Giral decided to give arms to the militias of the parties and unions. The power of the state suffered a near-total collapse, and councils, committees, and boards emerged to organize the public and volunteers. The territory loyal to the Republic faced the rebels and called for the impetus for social change. In the first months of the war against any faction (risen), there were murders, looting, and burning of churches, and property and assets were confiscated. These crimes were driven by syndicalists and the POUM (Workers’ Party of Marxist Unification).