Page 72 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Spain

70  INTRODUCING SP AIN

Civil War and the Franco Era

Nationalist generals rose against the govern ment in 1936,
starting the Spanish Civil War. The Nationalists, under
General Franco, were halted by the Republicans outside
Madrid, but with support from Hitler and Mussolini they
inched their way to victory in the north and east. Madrid
finally fell in early 1939. After the war, thousands of
Republicans were executed in reprisals. Spain was Spain on 31 July 1936
internationally isolated until the 1950s, when the United Republican-held areas
States brought her into the Western military alliance. Nationalist-held areas
Anguished mother
with dead child

Franco’s Ideal World
Under Franco, Church and State
were united. This poster shows
the strong influence of religion
on education.

Guernica (1937)
Composition
reflecting total On behalf of advancing Nationalists,
the Nazi Condor Legion bombed the
chaos
Basque town of Gernika-Lumo (see
pp122–3) on 26 April 1937 – a busy
Nationalist Poster market day. This was Europe’s first air
A Nationalist poster raid on civilians, and it inspired Picasso’s
adorned with Fascist shocking Guernica (see p303). Painted
arrows reads “Fight for for a Republican Government exhibition
the Fatherland, Bread in Paris, it is full of symbols of disaster.
and Justice”.
1936 Republican Popular 1938 On 8 January, Republicans lose 1945 By end of World War II,
Front wins the general battle for Teruel in bitter cold Spain is diplomatically and
election on 16 January. On politically isolated
17 July, Nationalist generals 1939 In March, Madrid, Valencia 1947 Spain declared monarchy
rise against Republicans and Alicante fall in quick
succession to Franco’s troops with Franco as regent
1935 1940 1945 1950
1936 Nationalists declare 1939 Franco declares end of 1953 Deal with US
Franco head of state on war on 1 April and demands permits American bases
29 September unconditional surrender on Spanish soil in
1937 On 26 April, Nazi planes from Republicans exchange for aid
bomb Basque town of 1938 On 23 December, Francisco Franco
Guernica (Gernika-Lumo) Nationalists bomb Barcelona overseeing an offensive

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