Hitler saw the Spanish Civil War as an opportunity to fight against Communism and test his armed forces. He supported the right-wing nationalist forces under General Franco, while Stalin supported the Republican government. Germany sent the Condor Legion to Spain, where the Luftwaffe practiced devastating bombing raids on civilian populations, such as the destruction of Guernica. After over 30 months of fighting that cost 250,000 lives, the nationalists emerged victorious, allowing Franco to establish an authoritarian regime in Spain. The Spanish Civil War provided benefits for Hitler by allowing him to strengthen ties with Mussolini, distract the West while expanding German power in Central Europe, and prepare German forces for future conflicts.

1. CONTENT
ROAD TO WAR
HITLER’S SECOND MOVE
SPANISH CIVIL WAR
- HOMEWORK -
7

2. CAMBRIDGE IGCSE – ROAD TO WW2 – MR. D
HITLER’S INVOLVEMENT IN SPAIN
His early successes seemed to give Hitler confidence.
In 1936 the civil war broke out in Spain between Communists, who
were supporters of the Republican government, and right-wing rebels
under General Franco.
Hitler saw this as an opportunity to fight against Communism.
Hitler also tried his armed forces in 1937, ordering devastating
bombing raids on civilian populations in different Spanish cities.
Some of the most prepared units were sent to Spain, such as the
famous Condor Legion and Kriegsmarine.
The destruction of Guernica was terrible.
The world looked on in horror.

3. CAMBRIDGE IGCSE – ROAD TO WW2 – MR. D

4. CAMBRIDGE IGCSE – ROAD TO WW2 – MR. D
SPAIN’S POLITICAL FACTIONS
Hitler, together with Mussolini, decide to support his fellow fascist
Franco, while Stalin supported the Republicans.
The Popular Front was a mixture of different factions (anarchists,
socialists, communists, syndicalist).
Franco’s right wing alliance included the Falange, Spain’s fascist party,
founded in 1933.

5. CAMBRIDGE IGCSE – ROAD TO WW2 – MR. D
WHAT HAPPENED?
The Spanish Civil War became a battleground for two main rival
ideologies (left and right) and thousands of volunteers flocked to Spain
in order to check the spread of fascism.
After more than 30 months of struggle, in which at least 250,000
people lost their lives, the Nationalists emerged victorious and Franco
established a fascist-style government.

6. CAMBRIDGE IGCSE – ROAD TO WW2 – MR. D
OPPORTUNITIES FOR HITLER
What Hitler hoped to achieve What Hitler achieved
If Franco was successful then Spain would become
a German ally. This would provide a hostile
presence on France’s South-Western border. Hitler
hoped that this move would provide Spanish naval
bases for the German navy.
Failure! Following the surrender of Madrid to the
Nationalists in March 1939, Spain failed to
become an ally of the fellow fascist states
(Germany and Italy) and instead opted for
neutrality during the Second World War, allowing
Franco to concentrate on Spain’s domestic
problems.
Germany’s armed forces, especially Luftwaffe,
could be tested in a kind of “dress rehearsal” for a
full-scale war in Europe
Success! The Luftwaffe was able to practise and
perfect dive-bombing techniques in the ruthless
assault on Guernica in the Basque region of Spain.

7. CAMBRIDGE IGCSE – ROAD TO WW2 – MR. D
OPPORTUNITIES FOR HITLER continued
What Hitler hoped to achieve What Hitler achieved
Since Mussolini was joining Hitler in assisting
Franco, Hitler hoped that this joint action might
provide the occasion to detach the Italian leader
from his association with Britain and France and
draw him into an alliance with Germany.
Success! Hitler succeeded in persuading Mussolini
to abandon Britain and France. While still not a
formal ally, Mussolini made it clear in a speech in
November 1936, that Germany and Italy now
formed an “axis”, the “Rome-Berlin Axis”. This
represented an important staging post on the road
to a formal alliance.
Hitler hoped that a long drawn-out civil war in
Spain would distract Western diplomats and
officials from the affairs of central Europe. Spain
could, therefore, act as a smokescreen for Hitler’s
attentions elsewhere.
Success! To a large extent this happened, as the
Spanish Civil War lasted for the best part of three
years. During this time Hitler was able to take
successful action over Austria and Czechoslovakia
in Central Europe.

8. CAMBRIDGE IGCSE – ROAD TO WW2 – MR. D
HOMEWORK