Question

Explain how Nazi Germany, Italy, and the Soviet Union became involved with the Spanish Civil War. Which side did each country support? Lastly, how did these events heighten tensions between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union?

Answer 1

Nazi Germany and Italy supported the Nationalist forces, while the Soviet Union supported the Republican Loyalists in the Spanish Civil War. These interventions heightened tensions and preluded World War II.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Spanish Civil War became a proxy battleground for different political ideologies, with Nazi Germany, Italy, and the Soviet Union getting involved. Nazi Germany and Italy supported the Nationalist forces led by Francisco Franco through the provision of troops, equipment, and particularly air support from the German Luftwaffe.

Notoriously, German forces bombed civilian targets such as the town of Guernica, a heinous act that also served as an experimental use of modern warfare tactics. In contrast, the Soviet Union supported the Republican Loyalists, comprising socialists and communists, with soldiers and other assistance. This external involvement significantly heightened tensions between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union.

While the two countries had conflicting ideologies, their actions in Spain served to both prepare for larger conflicts and to test their military capabilities on a real battlefield. The aftermath of the civil war, which saw Franco establish a fascist dictatorship, also strengthened the ties between Nazi Germany and Italy, paving the way to the formation of the Axis Powers. The moral and military implications of the international intervention in the Spanish Civil War were significant precursors to the broader conflicts leading up to World War II.