Foreign Intervention in Spanish Civil War

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Analyze the reasons for and the importance of foreign intervention in the Spanish civil war Final Word Count: 991 Each civil war divides the country resources; it is therefore really hard for any of the two sides to win the war without asking for any foreign help. It was the case for the Spanish civil war, which took place from 1936 to 1939. “Apart from foreign intervention, the two sides were so evenly balanced that neither could win” (Beevor 148). Three countries were majorly involved: Italy, Germany (Nationalist’s side) and the Soviet Union (Republican’s side). Their motivations to help were political, military and economical but above all ideological. The importance of foreign intervention (mainly Germany and Italy) in the outcome of the war played a big role because of their power in Europe and the high amount of resources they sent, which helped Franco to win. “Three factors chiefly explain the Nationalist victory…. the greater foreign aid given to the Nationalist”(Perry 203). Beyond that, historians often consider the Spanish civil war as a prelude to World War II, opposing fascism and communism. In order to understand the importance of the foreign intervention in the conflict, we shall analyze the reasons that led the different forces to participate. The first two countries to get involved were Italy and Germany. Their first reason to intervene was political and military. “The Italian government signed a secret treaty with the Spanish Nationalists… they agreed to allow Italy to establish bases in Spain if there was a war with France” (Simkin). “He (Mussolini) hoped to defeat the left in Spain, gain a new ally in Franco, who might grant Italy a naval base on one of the Balearic Island” (Williamson 150), “his great ambition was to rival British naval power and challenge the French in North
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