Foreign Powers and Consequences of the Spanish Civil War
International Dimension of the Conflict
Since the beginning of the war, Franco had the support of the fascist powers Germany and Italy, who provided material to the rebel army. France wanted to intervene but was afraid, and Britain stated it was a local conflict that the Spanish had to resolve. In 1936, France and England formed a Committee of Non-Intervention, which was joined by the major European powers. The Non-Intervention policy hurt the government of the Republic, as France and England maintained the French border closed, even preventing the arrival of Soviet equipment. However, Italy and Germany, despite being on the committee, gave full support to the rebels.
Germany sent equipment and military advisers, especially aviators (the Legion Condor). Italian aid was more important. In addition to material, Italy sent an expeditionary force, the CTV (Corpo Truppe Volontarie), composed of about 200,000 soldiers, and made much of its fleet available to Franco, blocking the Mediterranean ports and sinking ships heading towards them.
Besides, the rebels had the support of Portugal (the Salazar dictatorship) and the Church. The Holy See, in a collective pastoral letter, had considered the Spanish Civil War as a “crusade,” and the letter was later ratified by Pope Pius XI. The Francoist side also had the support of numerous foreign companies, especially from the U.S., which supplied oil and cars on credit. Large British banks also gave easy credit to Franco and blocked transactions for the Republic.
The Republic only had the firm support of the USSR and Mexico. Stalin feared the rise of fascism. The USSR supported democratic governments and urged the communist parties of these countries not to carry out a Communist revolution but to form solid and strong governments. The USSR also sent plenty of military equipment to the Republic, but not on credit, demanding immediate cash payment. The Republic sent Moscow its gold reserves as payment (estimated at $600,000,000). Moreover, the USSR also used its political influence to promote the PCE (Communist Party of Spain), which became the most significant party on the Republican side, and supported the elimination of other Soviet-aligned and Trotskyist parties (like the POUM). Soviet shipments were reduced and ceased almost completely after the Munich Conference.
Mexico sent food and light weapons, requiring no payment in return.
The Republic also had the support of anti-fascist parties worldwide. Many volunteers came to fight in Spain, forming the International Brigades, organized by the Comintern (The Third International).
Consequences of the War
First, highlight the human toll. It is estimated that there were about 600,000 deaths in a population of 24 million inhabitants. One important fact is that there were more deaths away from combat zones (in the rear) – estimated at around 300,000 to 400,000 – due to hunger, bombings, and repression (from both sides).
We must make special mention of the brutal repression that accompanied the war. On the Nationalist (Francoist) side, there were an estimated 55,000 deaths due to repression, including 6,000 priests, nuns, and monks. On the Republican side, the total number of those repressed is unknown. Many victims are in unmarked mass graves and are referred to as the “disappeared” of the war. Among these “disappeared” is the poet Federico García Lorca.
To the dead must be added the exiles. It is estimated that some 500,000 people fled across the French border. The refugees were interned by the French in concentration camps under harsh conditions. Many of them returned to Spain; others stayed in France, where they were persecuted by the Nazis after the German conquest.
Another group, consisting of main political leaders, intellectuals, and scientists, left for the Americas, especially Mexico and Argentina. Among the exiles, it is notable that the poet Antonio Machado died in France a few days after crossing the border.