Figure 1.--Notice the bullet holes in the building walls here. Franco kept Spain out of World War II, although it was a close-run thing. He did consider joining Hitler, but was not offered sufficent enducements. In the end it was geographpy that kept Spain out of the War. Its peninsular situation meant it was more exposed to the Royal Navy than any other country on the Continent. And Hitler's fixation on the East meant that he was not going to invade. While Spain stayed out of the War, children were still affected by the ligering impact of the Civil War. The February 1941 press photo here was heaed, "Left homeless by war". The caption read, "These Spanish children, playing in a Madrid street, were left homeless by the Spanish Civil War, they begged for their food and hunted for shelter." Source: Associated Press.

The Spanish Civil War !936-39) is seen by many as a preview of World War II. It ended (Match 1939) months before World War II broke out in Europe. Spain maintained its neutality and never entered the War. During the first years of the War, Spain sided with the Axis and offered some support. Volunteers participated in the campsaign against the Soviet Union. Franco refused Hitler's demands to let German troops pass through Spain to seize Gibraltar. He also refused German demands to turn over Jews to the NAZI killing machine. Franco kept Spain out of World War II, although it was a close-run thing. He did consider joining Hitler, but was not offered sufficent enducements. In the end it was geographpy that kept Spain out of the War. Its peninsular situation meant it was more exposed to the Royal Navy than any other country on the Continent and thus more threatened. And Hitler's fixation on the East meant that he was not going to delay his plans with a distracting invasion in the West. It also mean that the NAZIs were forced to pay for the resources, espcially wolfram obtained from Spain. While Spain stayed out of the War, children were still affected by the ligering impact of the Civil War.

Spanish Civil War (1936-39)

The Germans beginning in 1936 were active in Spain helping Franco establish a Fascist regime. Fighting began in Spain in July 1936. Spanish Generals Francisco Franco and Quiepo de Llano revolted against a new left-wing Republican Government elected in Madrid. Franco appealed for help. Hitler immeduately ordered Luftwaffe transport plans to transport Franco's loyalist troops in Morroco to participate in the fighting. He saw a left-wing government in Madrid as harful to the Reich, aiding the French policy of encirclement. [Davidson, pp. 57-58.] Both Italy and Germany were soon sending arms and men to the loyalists and provided important air elements. The defenseless Basque village of Guernica was the first European city to be destroyed by the Luftwaffe. The democracies and League of Nations respnded with an arms embargo. Only the Soviets aided the Republic. The Spanish Civil War finally ended with the surrender of the republican forces in Madrid (March 28, 1939).

Fascist Dictatorship

Spain was another example of the wave of Fascism that swept Europe in tyhe 1930s. Franco assumed a presidency and proceeded to establish a dictatotrial regime. Spain had been devestated by the War and Franco confronted the task of rebuilding a shatered country. About 0.5 million people, mostly men, who had fought for the Republic fearing reprisals fled the country. The French set up camps for them across the border. Franco set up concentration camps referred to as labor camps for those who has supported the Republic. Thousands were incarcerated. Many died in the camps. There were summary executions that went on for years. Both men and women were incarcerated. Mothers could keep their children with them in prisons until they reached age 5. At that age they were transferred to boarding schools where they were taught to be both Catholic and Fascists. Children could visit their incarcerated fathers two times a year. The autonomous status of Catalonia and the Basque Country was repealed. As part of this process, publication and education in the Catalan language was prohibited. Franco made the Falangist Party the governing party and incorporated a range of right-wing and Catholic groups. Fanco became El Caudillo (the leader) and the Falangists in Fascist traditiion became the Blue Shirts, copying the decives of Italian Fascists and German NAZIs. Franco's rule brought stability to Spain, but the economy was slow to recover.

Fascist Economy

Stability did not bring economic prosperity to Spain. The edconomy was devestayed by the Civil War. The economy recovered only slowly from the damage to the country's physical infrastructure. There were food shortages that persisted throughout the World War II which followed the Civil War. More than 80 food products were rationed. Milk for children in particular was in short supply. The Franco regime found a variety of excuses for the poor economy: Civuil War damage and drought. The principal reason, however, was mismanagement of the economy by Franco's bureaucracy heavily staffed with military officers with no background or great interest in economic matters. Franco also persued Fascist policvies of autarchy and sponsored expensive and ultimately unsuccessful programs aimed at making Spsain self-sufficient in all economic sectors. Another problem was that skillked workers and engineers, which had largely supported the Republic, were politically suspect and thus largely excluded from giovernmental processes. The poorly run state-controlled economy proved so inefficent that the black market became a flourishing economic sector.

Anti-Comintern Pact (March 1939)

NAZI Germany negotiated the Anti-Cominternn Pact with Japan (1936). Italy also joined the Pact (1937). Franco who saw the Civil War as a struggle against Goldless Communism agreed to join the the Pact (March 1939) This in effect expanded the secret treaties for diplomatic and economic cooperation that had been concluded with the NAZIs during the Civil War (March and July 1937).

Blitzkrieg (1939-40)

World War II began with the German invasion of Poland (September 1, 1939). When the German's launched their Western Offensive, Spain unlike Italy took no overt action against the Allies. The only exception was that as Paris fell, the Spanish seized Tangier, Morocco which had been a free city under international control (June 14, 1940). Franco must have been astonished at the NAZI successes. It also meant that if Franco did not joint Hitler that Spain would also be hreatened by him.

Economic Cooperation

Spain also provided economic support for the German war effort. Spain was not occupied by the NAZIs and thus could not be pilaged as was NAZI policy in occupied countries. Reuch Marshal Herman Göring and his representative Johannes Bernhardt set up a trading company in Spain, the Sociedad Hispano-Marroqui de Transportes (HISMA), during the early stage of the Civil War (1936). The company managed trade in a manner highly advantageous to the NAZIs. The Germans had military equipment to offer at a time other countries had embargoed shipments to Spain. Franco authorized the shipment of mineral resources and other raw materials to the Germans to pay for the military equipment, much of it obsolete equipment no longer needed by the Germans. As a result of the Civil War, Franco had incurred substantial debts to the Germans. After World War II had begun, Franco approved an economic treaty with Germany. He promised to reserve the greater part of Spain's for trade with Germany (December 22, 1939). Of special oncern to the NAZIs were mineral resources (iron ore, zinc, lead, mercury, and wolfram). Also important were wool, and hides. The German victory in France, meant that Spanish raw materials could be shipped by rail to Germany.

Nonbelligerency (June 1940)

Franco with the staggering German success in France, showed his sympathies with the Axis. He announced Spain's oficial position had changed fron neutraliry to nonbelligerency (June 13, 1940). This was, however, not a declaration of war. Nonbelligerency involved self-interested collaboration with the NAZIs, without the dangers of war with the British.

Military Support

Franco supported Hitler's anti-Bolshevicvk campaign, although he did not want to involve Spain in the War without enducements Hitler refused to provide. Franco did allow the formation of a volunteer force, the Division Azul (Blue Divion) which was subsequently remamed the the Blue Legion. The Division was named after the Falangist Blue shirts. It's performance to Hitler's suprise, was impressive. Spain also provided the Germans about 100,000 workers to maintain German war production. Franco also secured from Vichy France the return of Spanosh Republicans which had been interned in France. Many were then incarcerated in Spanish concentration camps. Spanish military losses in World War II are estimated at 12,000 military and about 10,000 civilian war workers in Germany.

Battle of Britain (July-September 1940)

The Battle of Britain was surely a key factor in Franco's decesion about entering the War. Franco mut have noted the NAZI failure to subdue Britain in the Battle of Britain (July-September 1940). We do not know preciseky how he interpreted the British success. Hitler still controlled the Continent. But the British victory was one of tactics abnd technology. It meant that a German victory in the War was by no means a sure thing. It is very likely that a German victory would have change Franco's calclations.

Hendaye Conference (October 23, 1940)

The German Führer traveled by rail to Hendaye on the Franco-Spanish border to meet with Franco. Hitler had made his decession to invade the Soviet Union and wanted to gain the support of his allies. He assumed that Franco, who he had helped to install in power, would join his anti-Bolshevick campaign. Hitler's goals were impaired by several factors. One, the British had defeated the Luftwaffe in the skies over England. This must have given Franco come pause concerning the inevitability of Germnan victory. Two, geographically Spain is a peninsula jutting west into the Atlantic. Spain if it entered the War would be exposed to the Royal Navy and a naval emargo which would damage its still shaky economy. Three, Franco had been briefed by Abwehr (German military intelligence) commander Admiral Canaris. Franco and Canaris had become close during the Civil War. Canaris had been apauled by the NAZI brutality he had witnessed in Poland. He told Franco privately that Hitler was now obsessed with Russia and would not risk any kind of diversion in Spain. Thus Franco refused to be cowed by Hitler. When Franco and Hitler met, Franco did not reject Hitler's entreaties to enter the War. He did make expansive demands. Franco demanded more colonies in Africa at Vichy's expense. Franco wanted French Morocco, parts of French Algeria and an expansion of Spanish Guinea. Hitler rejected these demands as it would complicated his relkationship with Vicy. The French Vichy Govdrnment was beginning to cooperate with German war effort and Hitler still hoped to gain control over the French fleet. Hitler and Franco also discussed "Operation Felix", a German plan to seize British-held Gibraltar. Franco argued that it made no sence in closuing the front door of the Meditterean as long as the British controlled the back door (Suez). Hitler was not accustomed to be spoken to as Franco did. Hitler told Musolini that, "I would rathger have three or four teeth extracted than go through that again". After the meeting with Franco, he traveled on to meet with Petain and Mussolini which also proved to be frustrating exercizes for the Führer.

Operation Felix (February 1941)

The NAZIs pushed Franco to activate the German-designed Operation Felix (February 1941). This involved the seizure of Gibraltar which would have greatly impaired the Royal Navy's ability to operate in the Mediterrean. Without Gibraltar the critical British position at Malta would have been untenable. Franco was however, disatidied with the enducements Hitler offered. While anxious to reclaim Gibraltar, Hitler offered little else and Franco correctly assessed the dangers of entering the War. Spanish officials told the NAZIs that their forces were not yet prepared to participate in Operation Felix.

Operation Barbarossa (June 1941)

The Battle of Britain in many ways changed the course of the War. An invasion of Britain was impossible without air superiority. Hitler, fearing a cross-Channel invasion, decided that the only way to force the British to seek terms was to destroy he Soviet Union. This was his principal goal from the beginning, in that it was in the East he foresaw obtainig the Lebensraum he was convinced Germany needed. He began shifting the Wehrmacht eastward to face the enemy that he had longed to fight from the onset--Soviet Russia. The nature of the War changed decisevely in the second half of 1941. The Germans invaded Russia in June 1941, launching the most sweeping military campaign in history. Stalin ignored warnings from the British who as a result of Ultra had details on the German preparations. Stalin was convinced that the the British and Americans were trying to draw him into the War and until the actual attack could not believe that Hitler would attack him. The attack was an enormous tactical success. The Soviets were surprised and devestated. While Franco refused to formally enter the War. He did support the NAZI war effort by supplying raw materials and workers to the Germans. He also allowed volunteers to sign up to fight with the Germans. The Blue Division perfomed well on the Eastern Front, but suffered substantial casulalties.

Franco's Calculations

He also was well aware that as a peninsular country jutting out into the Atlantic that if Spain entered the War that unlike Germany that it would be exposed to the Royal Navy. Thus without substantial German enducements, Franco saw little to be gained by entering the War and a great deal to be lost. The Failure of Barbarossa before Moscow and the entry of the United States in the War (December 1941) must have seen as further reason for caution. Franco surely wanted to see the Soviet Union destroyed, but after Hendaye he must have seen Hitler as a danger, perhaps a greater danger than the Western Allies. He must have known about Operaion Felix. Franco did not leave a written record of his calculations durin this period.

Refugees

The Spanish like most other neutals had no desire to be burndened with large numbers of regugees, especially as most were anti-Fascist or Jewish, As a result there were strict rules on visas and constant changes on those regulations. Many refugees had to be smuggled into Spain. Many anti-NAZI refugees were able to get to Spain. Anti-NAZI French were able to reach the Free French through Spain. Some Allied air crews were also able to escape from occupied France through Spain.

The Holocaust

There was one area in which Franco refused to assist the NAZIs. He refused to turn over Jews to them, both Spanish and foreign Jews that had managed tgo cross thge French border. The NAZIs could demand the authorities in occupieec countries turn over their Jews and also did so in countries allied to them. Franco in fact probably saved more saved more Jews than any other Ruropean country. He did close the Spanish border in an act of solidarity with the NAZIs, but allowed Jews and others with Portuguese visas to transit Spain.

Axis Reverses (1942-43)

Axis military operations achieved considerable success in early 1942. The Japanese after Pear Harbor swept thtought the Pacific and took the British bastion at Singapore. The Japanese defeated the Americans in the Ohilippines, seized the Duthch East Indies with the important oil fields, and defeated the British in Burma. Rommel took Tobruk and moved toward Egypt and Suez. The Germans again achieved spectacular successes in their in their 1942 Summer campaign in Russia. Then the tide tirned. First the America Navy inflicted a devestating defeat on the Imperial Navy at Midway (May 1942). The British Eighth Arnmy defeated the Afrika Koros at El Alemsine (October 1942), American and British forces launched Operation Torch and landed in French-held North Africa (November 1942). The Soviets launched an offensive at Stalingrad (November 1942). The German surrender at Stalingrad (February 1943) and Tunis (May 1943) made it clear that Germany would not win the War, After the Allied seizure of Sicily, Mussolini was ousted (July 1943). Italy asked for an armistace (September 1943).

Neutrality

The Axis reverses in 1942 and esecially 1943 caused Franco to adopt actual neuttral policies. It was clear by 1943 after Stalinngrad that the Germans would not win the War, although it was not yet clear that theu would be totally defeated. Franco did not, however, withdraw the Blue Divion from the Soviet Union until later (August 1944). I am not ure why this was. Franco before D-Day may have been concerned about the NAZI reaction. His hatred of Communism may have been another factor. While Hitler intervened in Italy, he did not do so in Spain, presumably because of the Wehrmacht's diminishing capabilities.

Repository

Spain like Switzerland came to be used by top NAZIs as a repository for looted assetts. This began as the NAZI military situation deteriorated. The transactions were, however, much more extebsive in Switzerland. Göring, Bormann, and other top NAZIs apparently shipped assetts to Spain, although details on these shipments are not available. One journalist claims that Bormann managed the Tierra del Fuego operation to ship NAZI loot to South America, in part through Spain. [Manning, p. 207.] I do not know if this in fact occurred.

D-Day (June 1944)

The Allied D-Day landings in Normandy and subsequent liberation of France radically changed changed Spain's situation. Franco was cut off from his NAZI associates and the Allies in effect surrounded Spain.

Diplomatic Isolation

Franco also found his regime diplomatically isolated. The new French Government permitted anti-Franco Spaniards to form a a Spanish Government-in-Exile. The Government was formed by President José Giral. Armed guerilleros crossed the Pyrenees. Don Juan, Count of Barcelona and a descendant of late King Amadeus XIII, demanded that Franco resign. The newly formed United

Sources

Davidson, Eugene. The Unmaking of Adolf Hitler (Univesity of Missouri: Columbia, 1996), 519p.

Manning, Pauk. Martin Bormann (Stuart, 1981).

Created: February 15, 2004
Last updated: 8:04 PM 5/3/2008