Spanish Civil War

Hitler meeting with General Francisco Franco (centre) at Hendaye, Southern France, October 1940.

The result of the 1936 Spanish election was a loss for the Spanish Confederation of Autonomous Right-wing Groups and a narrow win by the leftist Popular Front. Following the result, there was a coup d'état on 17 July 1936, after a group of right-wing generals pronounced their opposition.

By 21 July, the Nationalist rebels had achieved control of the Balearic Islands (less Minorca), the Canary Islands, Spanish Morocco, and much of Spain north of the Guadarrama mountains and the Ebro River. The Republican Government forces had put down the uprising in other areas. The Nationalists and Republicans then began to repress opposition with Nationalists becoming the most ruthless and violent. The executions and murders demonstrated the great passions that the Civil War was starting to unleash. The war continued as both sides were determined to be the outright winner. The Nationalists, led by General Francisco Franco, received aid from Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany. The Republicans received aid from the Soviet Union, as well as individual volunteers, from across Europe and the United States, joining their International Brigades. In Ireland, such individuals, ranging from moderate socialists to anarchists, made their way to Spain to join these International Brigades.

From the opposite side of the political spectrum came others, including from Ireland where some 7,000 were rallied by Brigadier General and ex-Commissioner of the Garda Síochána (Police), Eoin O'Duffy. The first wave of 700 volunteers, known as the Irish Brigade, eventually made their way to Spain to fight alongside General Franco's fascist Nationalists in the belief that it was a struggle against the 'Reds' - communism. They were mainly from right-wing and fascist parties known in Ireland as Blueshirts and Greenshirts, the latter being the openly fascist National Corporate Party. It was not a glorious military adventure and was thwarted when the Irish government prevented another 600 reinforcements deploying following legislation preventing Irish citizens participating in the Spanish Civil War - on either side. Most of the survivors were shipped back by Franco in June 1937.

The bloody and bitter civil war continued until 31 March 1939, when the fascist Nationalists controlled all Spain's territory. The last of the Republican forces surrendered on 1 April and General Franco proclaimed victory in a radio broadcast.

[Above left, Lieutenant Charles Steele, a former Royal Irish Fusiliers officer, wearing the uniform of the British Union of Facists or 'Blackshirts'.]