Spanish Civil War

1936-07-17 - 1939-04-01

The Spanish Civil War was fought in Spain from 1936 to 1939 between the Republicans and the Nationalist rebels. The Republicans, loyal to the left-leaning Popular Front government of the Second Spanish Republic, were supported by the Soviet Union, while the Nationalists, an alliance of Falangists, monarchists, and fascists, were supported by Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy. The war began after the partial failure of the coup d'etat of July 1936. The Nationalists won the war in early 1939, and General Francisco Franco declared victory on 1 April 1939, ruling Spain until his death in 1975.