Spain and World War Two :: WWII World War 2 Essays

Spain and World War Two Spain was officially a nonbelligerent state, throughout the Second World War. Stemming from three long years of civil war, starting in 1936 and ending in 1939, just as the world was picking sides for the Second World War. At this time Spain was destitute, her people starving, and generally tired of war. Leaning toward the Nazis, because of past help, and basic ideals, yet dependent on English, and American aide, Spain invented the nonbelligerent state. Spain remained uninvolved during World War Two because of Spanish honor, the personality of Francisco Franco, and it was not in Spain’s bet interest to enter the war. As a general rule, Spanish people feel rigidly bound by their sense of honor. This is one major conflict inherent between the Spanish people and entering the war. First Spain had no appreciable quarrel with any country involved in the war, save the Russians. The Russians had given aide the defeated Republicans during the Spanish civil war; the Russians were consequently despised. Whereas the Germans had helped Franco into power, by sending men, planes, and officers to help the war effort, therefor they were close allies. To further complicate things Germany began the war a friend of the Russians. As for the Allies, General Franco had received some military training in France, under the guidance of Marshals Petain, and Foch, who had been badly humiliated by the Nazis. And stemming from his time in France he developed a great respect for the military traditions of the French. Therefore helping the Nazis would be to stab the French in the back. An idea repugnant to General Franco "No Sp anish hidalgo would have done that."1 (A hidalgo is a child that inherits nothing from the family their life choices being the church, or soldering.) Concerning the Americans and British, Spain had absolutely no argument with them at all. The Americans and English were sending valuable raw materials to Spain in an effort to keep her neutral.2 So as a whole the Spanish people felt torn, they didn't want to help the Germans because they were allied with an enemy, and fighting a friend. Furthermore Spain did not want to fight America or Britain. To compound things further Spain did owe Germany. They had helped Franco to power by supplying soldiers, pilots, and machines while he lead his troops to victory over the republicans of Spain.