✦ History

Spanish Civil War

July 17, 1936 – April 1, 1939

Civil war in Spain, 1936-1939, between the left-leaning Republican government backed by the Soviet Union and Nationalist rebels backed by Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy. The war began with the partial failure of the July 1936 military coup; the Nationalists won in early 1939, and General Francisco Franco, who declared victory on 1 April, ruled Spain until his death in 1975.

View war on globe Full event page

Battles and events 18

July 21 – September 27, 1936
Siege of the Alcázar Siege of the Alcázar
July 25 – September 13, 1936
Campaign of Gipuzkoa
August 12–14, 1936
Battle of Badajoz (1936) Battle of Badajoz (1936)
November 8, 1936 – March 28, 1939
Siege of Madrid Siege of Madrid
February 3–8, 1937
Battle of Málaga (1937) Battle of Málaga (1937)
February 6–27, 1937
Battle of Jarama Battle of Jarama
March 8–23, 1937
Battle of Guadalajara Battle of Guadalajara
March 31 – October 21, 1937
War in the North War in the North
April 26, 1937
Bombing of Guernica Guernica, Spain Wolfram von Richthofen, Pablo Picasso
July 6–25, 1937
Battle of Brunete Battle of Brunete
August 24 – September 7, 1937
Battle of Belchite (1937) Battle of Belchite (1937)
December 15, 1937 – February 22, 1938
Battle of Teruel Battle of Teruel
March 5–6, 1938
Battle of Cape Palos (1938) Battle of Cape Palos (1938)
March 7 – April 19, 1938
Aragon Offensive Aragon Offensive
April 23 – July 24, 1938
Levante Offensive
July 25 – November 16, 1938
Battle of the Ebro Ebro river, Spain
December 23, 1938 – February 10, 1939
Catalonia Offensive Catalonia Offensive
March 26–31, 1939
Final offensive of the Spanish Civil War

Key commanders

Francisco Franco 1892–1975 Manuel Azaña 1880–1940 Wolfram von Richthofen perpetrator · 1895–1945 Pablo Picasso artist, Painted Guernica in protest at the bombing · 1881–1973