Spanish Civil War (1936-39)

Question 1

dates?

Answer 1

July 1936 to April 1939

Question 2

What was the SCW?

Answer 2

A conflict in which the Spanish Rep Govt & LW groups fought against a RW nationalist rebellion led by Franco.

Question 3

What did Antonio Machado characterise the divisions in Spain as?

Answer 3

“the 2 Spains”

Question 4

The Republicans

Answer 4

• ranged from centrists to advocates of communism/ anarchism
• power base: urban & secular
• strong in Catalonia & the Basque County

Question 5

The Nationalist Rebels

Answer 5

• Supporters: rural, rich conservatives
• mostly Catholic
• favoured the centralisation of power

Question 6

Number of casualties?

Answer 6

500k-1M

Question 7

What were many of the casualties the result of?

Answer 7

Not military fighting but mass brutal executions perpetrated by both sides.

Question 8

How did the SCW start?

Answer 8

With military uprisings throughout Spain followed by Rep reprisals against the Church (allies of the rebels)

Question 9

Which group in society faced potential massacres?

Answer 9

Catholic clergy (both regular and secular)

Question 10

How many bishops were murdered?

Answer 10

12

Question 11

How many priests were murdered?

Answer 11

over 4000

Question 12

How did Franco retaliate to the massacres committed by the Reps?

Answer 12

Initiated a cleansing of anything “red” or related to the SRG, including TUs and PPs.

Question 13

What was the SCW a training ground for?

Answer 13

AH’s new toys ;)

Question 14

What was the B govt’s stance?

Answer 14

officially neutral

Question 15

Although officially neutral, what did the B govt maintain?

Answer 15

-an arms embargo on Spain

Question 16

What did the B govt discourage?

Answer 16

The anti-Fascist participation of its citizens.

Question 17

What did the SRG hope would happen w/ start of WW2?

Answer 17

That the European powers would finally help them. Did NOT happen :(

Question 18

What did BM and AH do?

Answer 18

They violated the embargo and sent troops, aircraft and weapons to help Franco.

Question 19

How many troops did BM send to Spain?

Answer 19

60k troops

Question 20

What was a consequence of the arms embargo?

Answer 20

SRG could only receive aid from USSR, which was:

1) 1000s of miles away
2) in economic disarray itself

Question 21

Why were BM’s troops essentially “volunteers”?

Answer 21

Italy never declared war on SRG.

Question 22

What did a poster of the SRG urge Spaniards to do?

Answer 22

“Rise up against the Italian invasion of Spain!”

Question 23

What did Italy give Spain?

Answer 23

1) 4 destroyers
2) 2 submarines
3) 4 motor torpedo boats

Question 24

Which factor contributed the most to the development of the Axis?

Answer 24

Italian’s involvement in SCW

B & F’s reaction to Abyssinia had already undermined the SF

Question 25

What were the direct results of SCW?

Answer 25

1) Speed w/ which BM abandoned the defence of Austrian independence.
2) BM’s acceptance of the destruction of Czechoslovakia.
3) The Pact of Steel.

Question 26

International reasons why BM intervened in SCW…

Answer 26

1) To stop French LW influence in Spain.
2) To cultivate an ally in a strategic area.
3) To establish greater Italian influence in the Med.
4) To demonstrate Italy’s might to the world.`

Question 27

Ideological reasons why BM intervened in SCW…

Answer 27

1) To fight against decadent democracy & Socialism.

2) To help spread Fascism.

Question 28

Domestic reasons why BM intervened in SCW…

Answer 28

1) To maintain the momentum for fascistisation at home.

Question 29

General reasons why BM intervened in SCW…

Answer 29

1) To stay in the limelight.
2) To have another war.
3) He had become overambitious after the Abyssinian victory.

Question 30

BM considered the conflict to be over…

Answer 30

… very quickly.

Question 31

Whose decision was it for Italy to intervene in SCW?

Answer 31

BM’s; few others favoured it, given the potential costs & little anticipated gains.

Question 32

What did BM say the SCW did to the Italian economy?

Answer 32

“Bled Italy white”

Question 33

How much did Italy’s involvement in SCW cost?

Answer 33

14 B lire (1/2 a year’s tax revenue) & required special levies.

Question 34

What happened to the lire after SCW?

Answer 34

It was devalued.

Question 35

What economic consequences did SCW have on Italy?

Answer 35

1) Disrupted Italian trade & reinforced the trend of increasing trade with Germany.

Question 36

How much of her foreign currency reserves did Italy lose due to the SCW?

Answer 36

1/2

Question 37

What were the domestic repercussions of the SCW?

Answer 37

Made the govt unpopular (apart from with the CC)

Question 38

Where were Italian military weaknesses exposed?

Answer 38

Guadalajara

Question 39

What were the military repercussions of Italian involvement in SCW?

Answer 39

:)

1) Italy were on winning side- claimed a great victory.

:(

1) Prevented Italy from consolidating its strength after the Abyssinian conflict.
2) Used up much needed weapons and ammo.
3) Italy’s military strength was less in 1939 than in 1936; it was unprepared for WW2 in ‘39.
4) Humiliated at Guadalajara; Italian weaknesses were exposed.

Question 40

What were the POSITIVE international repercussions of Italian involvement in SCW?

Answer 40

:)

1) Italy gained a potential supporter in a strategic position, facing F & B.
2) Helped establish another Fascist regime.

Question 41

What were the NEGATIVE international repercussions of Italian involvement in SCW?

Answer 41

:(

1) Italy gained little of real value; just Spanish neutrality.
2) Diverted Italian attention from the German threat to Austria.
3) Increased Italy’s links with NG.
4) It reinforced Italy’s quarrel with B & F (but they still wanted her friendship)

Question 42

What happened at Guadalajara?

Answer 42

Italians defeated by international brigades.

MARCH 1937