Spanish Civil War

On July 17, 1936, a group of Spanish military officers launched an uprising against the Second Spanish Republic, starting in the Spanish protectorate in Morocco. This revolt quickly spread to mainland Spain, marking the beginning of the Spanish Civil War. The coup was planned by a group of generals, including Francisco Franco, who would later become the leader of the Nationalist forces. The uprising eventually led to a brutal and protracted civil war that lasted until 1939.

By July 18, 1936, the rebellion that started in Spanish Morocco had spread to mainland Spain. Insurgents in various parts of Spain joined the revolt, seizing control of a significant portion of the country's military and infrastructure. The republican government in Madrid struggled to contain the uprising. This escalation transformed the political conflict into a full-scale civil war that would engulf Spain for nearly three years.

The Battle of Madrid began on November 8, 1936, when Nationalist forces launched a major attack aiming to capture the Spanish capital. The battle was one of the first major military confrontations of the Spanish Civil War. Fierce resistance by loyalist forces and volunteers from around the world helped to keep Madrid from falling into Nationalist hands. The battle lasted until the end of the year, becoming symbolically significant as a stand against fascism.

On April 26, 1937, the small town of Guernica in the Basque Country was bombed by the German Luftwaffe's Condor Legion and the Italian Aviazione Legionaria. The bombing resulted in widespread destruction and civilian casualties, and became infamous as one of the first aerial bombings of a civilian population in history. The attack was a terror bombing aimed at demoralizing the Basque people and supporting the Nationalist forces led by Franco.

The Battle of Brunete, fought from July 6 to July 25, 1937, was a significant Republican offensive aimed at diverting Nationalist troops from the northern front and relieving pressure on the weakened Republican lines. The battle took place near Brunete, west of Madrid. Despite early successes, the Republicans were unable to secure a definitive victory and suffered heavy casualties. The battle ended with a Nationalist counterattack that recaptured most of the lost territory.

The fall of Gijón, the last Republican stronghold in the northern zone, on October 21, 1937, marked the end of the Spanish Civil War's northern campaign, also known as the War in the North. After a series of brutal engagements, Nationalist forces captured Gijón, effectively securing their control over the entire northern front. This victory allowed Nationalist forces to concentrate their efforts on the central and eastern fronts, further consolidating their position in the conflict.

The Battle of the Ebro was the longest and largest battle of the Spanish Civil War, beginning on July 25, 1938, and lasting until November of the same year. It was a major Republican offensive aimed at diverting Nationalist forces from the vulnerable Valencian front. The battle took place along the Ebro River. Despite initial successes, the Republicans suffered devastating losses, and the Nationalists eventually regained the territory. This battle significantly weakened the Republican forces.

On March 28, 1939, Nationalist forces entered Madrid, the capital city of Spain. This event marked a crucial turning point in the Spanish Civil War, as the fall of Madrid signaled the ultimate collapse of Republican resistance. Faced with encirclement and ongoing military defeats, the Republican government had fled the city earlier. With Madrid's capture, Francisco Franco's forces solidified their victory, paving the way for the establishment of a dictatorship.

The Spanish Civil War officially ended on April 1, 1939, when General Francisco Franco declared victory over the Republican forces. The war resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands and led to the establishment of Franco's dictatorship, which lasted until his death in 1975. The conflict had devastated Spain, leaving deep social and political scars on the country. The conclusion of the war marked the beginning of decades of authoritarian rule under Franco's regime.

On October 23, 1939, General Francisco Franco, the leader of Francoist Spain, met with Adolf Hitler, the Führer of Nazi Germany, at the French border town of Hendaye. This meeting was an attempt by Hitler to persuade Franco to join the Axis powers in World War II. Despite the pressure, Franco maintained Spain's neutrality in the global conflict, understanding that Spain was weakened by its recent civil war. The meeting highlighted the geopolitical complexities following the Spanish Civil War.