franco's spain

• axis - Germany , Italy , Japan
• Belligerent - nation or person engaged in war or conflict
• concordant - agreement or treaty , one between vatican and secular gov
• embargo - offical ban on trade or other commerical activity with a particular country
• royal patronage - right to appoint bishops and priests , previously only given to spanish king
• maintaining neutrality during WW2

  • franco ideologically close to Germany + Italy
  • discussed Spain's entry into war with Hitler in October 1940 as Germany had seized France , drove Britian out of continental Europe
  • franco promised to support Axis if he got Morrocco. Mussolini wanted it too , deal wasn't made , Spain remained neutral
• Monarchists wanted to side with Britain during WW1 as Spanish royal family had close links with British monarchy
• falangists wanted to support Italy + Germany a they had similar ideaologies
• 1939 - Franco said Spain was 'non-belligerent'
• 1939:

  • franco provided germany to work with raw materials
  • franco allowed spanish people to work in german factories
  • german ships , submarines could use spanish ports
• 1941 - spain was 'morally belligerent'
• 1941:

  • germany attacked soviet union
  • moral fight against godless communism
  • offered spanish manpower to help germany
  • fought on eastern , NOT western front
  • helped Nazis gather intelligence
  • didn't want to fight Britain as didn't want them to declare war on Spain
• 1941 (continued):

  • established Blue division of Waffen SS (18k volunteers)
  • when the US entered war in 1941 , Franco convinced Hitler couldn't win , blue division withdrawn
• 1943 - 'Vigilantly neutral'
• 1943 -

  • franco assumed Allies would win
  • ended support for Germans in 1944
  • USA hit spain with oil sanctions
  • sanctions led to domestic unrest
• 1943 - (continued)

  • agreed to stop supporting Germany to end embargo
  • continued gathering intelligence for Germany
  • stopped supplying Wolfram (mineral for explosives) , withdrew German spies from Spain