Spanish+Civil+War

=Spanish Civil War= The Spanish Civil War was a major conflict or uprising that stretched from 17 July, 1936 to 1 April, 1939. Estimates show that close to 500,000 people died in the war. The war started when Francisco Franco, a military general, led a military rebellion against the Spanish government. Right away, loyalties were divided. Major cities like Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, and Bilbao did not join the revolt, but Morocco, Pamplona, Cordoba, and Seville did. This left Spain divided.

This division caused the pulverization of the Spanish economy and life as General Franco fought bloody campaigns throughout Spain in order gain control of every territory. Franco was assisted by Nazi Germany and the fascist Italy, causing some historians to consider the Spanish Civil War an opening act for WWII. Opposing the rebels were the Republicans, also known as the loyalists, who were assisted by the Soviet Union and the United States of America. Much like the American Civil War, this war often wound up with family members, friends, and neighbors fighting against one another, and much like WWII, many civilians were killed for their religious or political views. he Spanish Civil War is also considered to be the first media war, with hundreds of writers from many countries in the middle of the fighting writing news reports and accounts in the hopes that their work would have an impact on the outcome of the war by changing public opinion.

In the end, the rebels, called Nationalists, won the war and Franco was able to establish a dictatorship controlling Spain. The Spanish Civil War was the first conflict to use widespread tank warfare and "terror bombing" from the air, like the bombing of the city of Guernica, had a huge impact on this and future wars.