8. Spanish Civil War 1936-1939
The Spanish Civil War began with a military coup on July 17, 1936. Generals in the Spanish Republican Armed forces declared opposition against the elected leftist-leaning government. Nationalists, led by General Francisco Franco, were conservative and largely aristocratic and received support from Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy. The Soviet Union supported the left-leaning Republicans that were overwhelmingly urban and loyal to the Spanish Second Republic. The fight for governmental control lasted just over two years with thousands murdered, tortured, and disappeared.
German planes, in support of Franco and the Nationalists, bombed Republican-controlled cities. Republican officials began evacuating children. Over 35,000 los ninos were sent throughout Europe with 20,000 evacuees shipped to Mexico, the Soviet Union, and the United Kingdom. The atrocities committed by both sides included executing Roman Catholic priests, Protestant clerics, civilians, and those classified as unwanted. Nationalists and Republicans held in prison were tortured with both sides admitting to pushing prisoners off of bridges to their death. Through recent excavation of mass graves, it is estimated that at least 288,000 people were executed.
Propaganda informed the world of the war in Spain. Leaflets, radio programs, posters, and movies were distributed as ways to garner support for both sides. Famously, Ernest Hemmingway advocated military aid for the Republicans with the release of his film, The Spanish Earth. After fleeing to Paris, Salvador Dali painted his famous work, Soft Construction with Boiled Beans (Premonition of Civil War), and Republicans commissioned Pablo Picasso in 1937 to paint Guernica.
The Nationalists were victorious forcing thousands into exile as refugees to the south of France. Republicans that remained were persecuted under the dictatorship of Francisco Franco that lasted until his death in November 1975.