2.1.5 The Significance of the International Response

• Britain feared involvement in Spanish affairs could lead to a broader European war. There was also strong anti-republic sentiment, and with Spain accounting for 13.3% of Britain's European investments, the British government worried a revolutionary socialist regime would allow people to seize their assets
• The French leader, Leon Blum, initially wanted to support the Republic but changed his mind when Britain was not prepared to intervene and continued the policy of appeasement
• The Non-Intervention Pact was signed by Britain, France and 27 other countries, including Germany, Italy and Russia
• German Aid By 1936:

  1. 6,000 rifles
  2. 450 machine guns
  3. 5 million bullets
  4. 10,000 grenades
  5. Lieutenant Colonel Warlimont was sent as a military adviser
  6. The Condor legion
• Italian Aid By 1936:

  1. 50,000 troops
  2. 130 aircraft
  3. 2,500 tonnes of bombs
  4. 12,000 machine guns
• In 1936, Stalin sent 500 tonnes of military hardware, 1,000 tonnes of ammunition and 500 engineers
• Approximately 35,000 people joined the international brigades, including 9,000 from France, 2,800 from the USA and 2,000 from the UK