The Spanish Civil War- (Research for Pan’s Labyrinth)
The Spanish civil war began on July 17th1936 and lasted until April 1th 1939. During the early 1920s Spain struggled to rebuild after a great economic depression and the harsh dictatorship rule of the government. After the Spanish public electing a democratic anti-fascist and non-radical thinking left party government, a group of nationalists began to revolt disagreeing with the new ways of the Spanish government.
The rebellions were led by Francisco Franco who had strong ideals about fascism and dictatorship. Franco and his right-wing party responded with a military coup which failed, ultimately prolonging the Spanish civil war. During this, the rebels received aid from Italy, Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union (USSR).
The key event that led to the outbreak of the civil war was an organised military attempt in towns throughout Spain, in which the rebels achieved control in areas of Spain, Morocco, the Canary Islands and Balearic Islands. In early stages of the civil war the nationalists used violence as an act of radicalism and terror, causing the republican government to also resort to violence as a defence. The war progressed to be a battle between nationalists and the republican government, in which over 1 million people died from battle, assassination and starvation. Overall, the war was an outcome of the divide in Spain. Nationalists were most commonly Roman Catholics and military personnel.
Towards the end of the war in 1939 Franco’s army of rebels overthrew the republic government. Republican leaders attempted to negotiate peace in Spain, but Franco refused. The Spanish civil war came to an end as the nationalists entered the city of Madrid signifying their victory.
Within the war military tank testing and air warfare posed a threat to international relations prompting the start of World War two between Germany, Italy, and Japan against Britain, France and American powers.
Emma Coe Film Studies 