Spanish Civil War

The Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) saw the Nationalists and Republicans fight for control of Spain.

The Republicans were supported by the Soviet Union and so they were seen as supporters of Communism. The Partido Obero de Uniﬁcacion Marxista (POUM), a Spanish communist party, fought for the Republican party but they differed from the Russian communists and opposed Stalin. Also in support of the Republicans were the anarchists, notably, Buenaventura Durruti. The Confederación Nacional del Trabajo was the major anarchist group. The Basque army also supported the Republican party, as did the Aslatos, the Spanish police force. The various political groups that made up the Republican force had very different ideologies and so, they were internally divided.

The Nationalists were, in some part, supported by fascists. The Nationalists organised an embargo to prevent international aid for the Republicans. They had the French sign a policy of non-intervention. The Nazis supported the Nationalists and the Luftwaffe bombed both Guernica and Durango at the request of the Nationalists. Francisco Franco was a general in the Nationalist army. He claimed that the Republicans had destroyed Guernica themselves while in retreat.

Many foreign journalists entered Spain to report on the war; George Orwell visited Spain to witness the fighting and took part in it, fighting for the Republicans.

The Eighth Doctor and Anji Kapoor stayed in Barcelona for a few months while investigating anomalies in history. They pretended to be British journalists reporting on the war. The city was under the control of anarchists and so they associated with them, in particular, Eleana Domínguez. Barcelona was nearly inaccessible by sea as the area was mined to destroy supply ships.

Meanwhile, Fitz Kreiner travelled with Sasha to view the bombing of Guernica. This act was widely reported across Spain as a horrific event, but the exact details were in dispute. Upon returning to Barcelona, Fitz fought alongside Joaquín and the POUM in a street battle that erupted between them and the regular communists. After the fighting ended, the POUM were accused of inciting violence among the Republicans to aid the Nationalist forces.

In 1939, Franco led his army to victory, with Barcelona falling into his hands. (EDA: History 101)