How was the Spanish Civil War a prologue to World War II?
Check these sites.
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1210668636842&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FPrinter
http://www.worldwar2database.com/html/spain.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Civil_War
thank you!!! the web sites really helped:):)
Great! And you're welcome. :-)
The Spanish Civil War, which took place from 1936 to 1939, can be seen as a prologue to World War II in several ways:
1. Ideological conflict: The Spanish Civil War was a significant ideological conflict between the Republicans, who were primarily left-wing and supported democracy, and the Nationalists, who were right-wing and backed General Francisco Franco. On one side, the Republicans received support from the Soviet Union and international brigades consisting of volunteers from various countries who sympathized with the left-wing cause. On the other side, the Nationalists received aid from Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy, who saw the conflict as an opportunity to test their military capabilities and spread their ideology. This ideological division and external involvement foreshadowed the power struggles and alliances that would shape World War II.
To understand this point further, you can research the political atmosphere leading up to the Spanish Civil War, the ideologies of the various factions involved, and the international support they received.
2. Testing ground for military tactics and weapons: The Spanish Civil War served as a testing ground for new military tactics and weapons that would later be employed in World War II. Both the Nationalists and the Republicans experimented with innovative strategies, such as aerial bombings and large-scale tank warfare. For instance, the German Luftwaffe utilized the Spanish conflict to perfect their air superiority tactics, while Italian forces tested their armored divisions. These lessons and technological advancements were subsequently employed by Germany and Italy during World War II.
If you want a deeper understanding of this point, you can explore the military strategies and technological advancements developed during the Spanish Civil War and their subsequent usage in World War II.
3. International polarization and appeasement: The Spanish Civil War highlighted the international polarization and appeasement policies that characterized the years leading up to World War II. The conflict solidified the division between democratic nations and those sympathetic to fascist ideologies. Many democracies were reluctant to intervene in the Spanish Civil War, fearing the consequences of direct involvement. This reluctance can be seen as an example of appeasement, with nations hoping to avert another large-scale conflict. However, this approach ultimately failed, as it emboldened the aggressor states and set the stage for further aggression in World War II.
To delve deeper into this aspect, you can research the foreign policies of major powers during the Spanish Civil War and how these policies influenced the outbreak of World War II.
By examining these aspects, it becomes clear that the Spanish Civil War played an important role as a prologue to World War II, shaping the political, ideological, and military landscape of the coming global conflict.