Nationalist International Aid

• Hitler and Mussolini openly increased the level of their support they provided to Franco.
• By July 1936, Franco had purchased the following from Germany:

  • 6000 rifles
  • 450 machine guns
  • 5 million bullets
  • 10000 grenades
• In September 1936, Hitler sent lieutenant colonel Warlimont to act as a leading military adviser to general Franco. 2 months later, he also authorised the establishment of the Condor Legion of fighter planes and bombers to support the Nationalists.
• Mussolini supplied large numbers of Italian soldiers to fight the Republican forces. Italy sent more than 50000 men to support the Nationalist forces, while Germany sent approximately 10000. Italy and Germany also supplied food and various other resources.
• In the first 3 months of the war, Mussolini provided:

  • 130 aircraft
  • 2500 tonnes of bombs
  • 500 artillery pieces
  • 700 mortars
  • 12000 machine guns