Foreign Intervention - Introduction

During the Spanish Civil War, both, international supporters of the Republicans, and international supporters of the Nationalists, sent aid in forms of volunteers and resources.

Above, is a propaganda poster, drawn by the Catalan painter Joan Miro in 1937, trying to encourage international mobilization for the Republicans.

The foreign countries felt that involvement in the Spanish Civil War was essential as they each had to defend the beliefs of the parties they supported. For example, the non-fascist countries, such as the Soviet Union, felt that it was important to limit the spread of fascism and so, wanted desperately to send aid to the Republicans. So, despite the Non-Intervention Agreement signed in 1936, by all European powers, there was still foreign intervention made by either countries or separate organizations.

The main parties and organizations involved in sending aid were:
- The Soviet Union
- Germany
- Italy
- The International Brigades

Western Democracies and Non-Intervention Policies

The Western Democracies involved in the Spanish Civil War were mainly fueled with motives in regards to the benefits of their own countries.

In France, the popular front was seen as a natural ally to Spain. However, it did not offer much support because it still wanted to remain close allies with UK who wanted to prevent the possible confrontation with Italy and Germany (as they supported opposing parties).

The Non-Intervention Neutrality Act was suggested by France's Popular Front in order to minimize German and Italian aid to the Nationalists. This agreement stated that all nations would attempt to remain neutral and not interfere with Spain's affairs, by putting an embargo on arms sales or supplies to Spain.

This agreement, however, was ignored by Germany, Italy and the Soviet Union as they insisted on sending aid. As a result, the Republicans could only rely on Soviet arm supplies which led to profound political influence by the Communist party.

Foreign Intervention - Soviet Union

“Madrid will be the grave of Fascism.”

Comintern (Communist Int’l) had control over the Communist Party in Spain. The Spanish Communist Party had 38,000 members in spring, 1936; increased to 200,000 at the end of 1936. Subsequently, the membership grew up to 300,000 by March 1937.

The Non-Intervention Committee was set up by Britain and France to impose an embargo on weapon sales to Spain. The Non-Intervention Agreement was the attempt to limit the war to a national level, to Britain and France’s fear that it would metamorphose into an international level, and that is: a general European Conflict. However, it turned out that the strategy was a pretense, as Hitler and Mussolini were flagrantly shipping arms into Spain. The non-intervention had a profound relation with the Soviet Union, with which consequents was closely related to Soviet’s aid of Spain.

The motive behind Stalin’s aid to Spain was to haul the progress of the war and to weaken Italy and Germany so the USSR would gain military advantage when a possible war between USSR and the two nations occurs. The USSR was in support of Franco’s army and it was built on the notion that a defeat of Republicans would provoke an anti-Communist feeling in Europe. Juan Negrin, a Communist sympathizer was chosen to replace prime minister Largo Caballero after Caballero objected to Communists’ attempts to take over PSOE. With this, Communists gained potential power and attracted considerable middle-class support, which opposed revolutionary surplus of the Anarchists.

The Communist takeover of Spain largely contributed to the collapse of the Republican government. The Communist party required total loyalty to the party and accordance to authorities in Moscow. In fact, such party accordance and advantage was what the Republicans lacked. Due to deprivations caused by war, the Republicans lost the momentum and will to continue on.

Foreign Intervention - Germany

The friendship between the Franco and Hitler started from the 25th of July 1936, when the Hitler agreed to support the Nationalists. Immediately after the request, Hitler sent 20 transport planes to Franco. Later in the war, he provided the Nationalists with artillery, small arms, tanks and vehicles. Most importantly, he offered full support by offering the Nationalists the help of the German airforce.

These forces were signicant to many victories of the Nationalist, including the victory in Guernica.

<-- Ruins of Guernica after German bombing

Hitler publicly justified his actions, by declaring that it was necessary to stop "communist barbarism".

However, his real motives behind sending aid became clearer as the war progressed:
- The support he sent to the Nationalists meant that Germany had a closer connection with Italy
- If the Nationalists were to win, Germany would have enforced his alliance with Britain and France
- The instability of Spain was also beneficial to Germany as she was on the southern border to France
- If there was a Nationalist victory, Germany would obtain access to Spanish natural resources such as iron, copper, mercury and pyrites which were essential for arms production.
- Sending aid to Spain meant that Hitler could also test his commanders, weapons and tactics, in preparation for future conflicts

"A total of 19,000 Germans served in the Spanish Civil War. Of these, 298 were lost, with 173 being killed by the enemy. This included 102 aircrew, 27 fighter pilots and 21 anti-aircraft crew. A large number were killed in accidents and others died of illness. The Condor Legion lost 72 aircraft to enemy action. Another 160 were lost in flying accidents."
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/SPgermany.htm

Foreign Intervention - Italy

As a whole, Mussolini supported the Nationalists from before the Spanish Civil War. At the outbreak of war, Mussolini made a secret agreement with Franco in November 1936. This agreement stated that Italy would have Franco's support in the event of a war with France. In return, Mussolini promised to send aid to the monarchists during the Spanish Civil War.

As a result, the government of Italy helped the nationalist forces in Spain by sending resources and personel from the different Italian army corps. Together, they became known as the CTV (Corpo Truppe Volontarie) sending both military volunteers, aircraft and tanks. By 1937, a total of 50,000 Italians were fighting for the Nationalists. By the end of the Spanish Civil War, a total of approximately 75,000 Italians fought in Spain for the Nationalists.

The International Brigades

The International Brigades, formed by a the Soviet Union's Comintern, composed of military volunteers supporting the Republicans. The group of volunteers were anti-fascists, spanning from anarchists, socialists and communists. Over the course of the Spanish Civil War, a total of 35,000 men from 53 nations volunteered for the International Brigades. However, there were never more than 800 volunteers present at one time.

We the Internationals, united with the Spanish people, fight the invader.

Of these volunteers, most were Communist and from the working-class. The Soviet Union, trying to hide the amount of support that they offered to the Spanish Civil War, sent many people from the Red Army via the International Brigades as volunteers. For example, various commanders, Kleber, Gal, Copic and Walter, were officers of the Red Army.

The recruitment of volunteers of the International Brigades was organized in Paris. Here, the volunteers were organized and separated. Despite their claims of having the volunteers prepared as "properly trained menw ith good rifles, a well-equipped corps", the men who went in to war, were often defenseless, merely knowing the standard procedures of marching and turning.

Antony Beever, The Battle for Spain:

"Many of them had never even handled a rifle until they were on the way to the front, and the few Great War veterans had to show them how to load their obsolete wapons of varied calibres"