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SPOILER: The Spanish Civil War
Back again!
The Vulture - thanks The Vulture. YOu might say on steroirds!
danderson - Or you might ask - how might he help China...
Wyragen-TXRG4P - Exile to China leads to drug binge = hearing voices in his head that tell him to side with the Republic
trekchu - It's a global publication I believe... much more prominent in this TL..
Nivek - Thanks Nivek. More butterflies to come as a result of this...
demonkangaroo - Bump receivediditoo
_____________________________________________________-
MEGA-SPOILERS AHEAD
The Spanish Civil War
(36-45)
The Spanish Civil War was one of the most drawn out, confused and chaotic civil wars in the history of manking. What was initially a military coup which resulted in two sides fighting eventually resulted in what most political science professors call a "clusterfuck." The end of the war was a reflection of the mutual exhaustion of all parties and the 'victor' was really the last man standing.
The Civil War had four distinct phases:
The situation on August. By the end of the year the Republicans would hold all of the south except Moroco.
Phase 1: Brother Against Brother (1936)
The first phase of the civil war began with a failed military coup attempt. Tensions were already running high in the fragile Republic and the Coup Attempt on 1 July 1936 set the scene for an explosion of tension. Military officers under the overall leadership of Marshall Senjuro attempted to take over key centers of communication and government. However, the Azana government responded decisively arming many of the 'popular front groups.' However what would be now known as the "Militarists" or "Nationalists" successfully gained control of large areas of the country. By the end of December - key front lines had been drawn. It looked as if the conflict would settle into a sort of "stalemate"
Red line = Revolutionary Spain
BLue line = Militarist Spain
Green line = Republican Spain
Phase 2: Outside Intervention (1937-38)
The key factor that would move the conflict out of it's stalemate situation was international intervention. Although foreign aid was dribbling in at the beginning of the conflict - the realization that Spain would play a crucial role in what many saw as an inevitable conflict spurred the powers to keep their allies supplied. Militarist Spain was equipped lavishly by her Italian and German backers who saw Spain as a 'testing ground' for new equipment. Republican Spain was less fortunate, Soviet Aid was forthcoming - but the year would make clear that this came at a price. Soviet cadres began a "popular insurrection" against the Azana Madrid Government, althought they failed to seize control of the apparatus of state they were able to tear a chunk of Spain away from the Republic. The "Revolutionary Spain" was a curious mix of Basque conservatives, Valladoid Anarchists and Moscow-line Communists. Republican Spain was less fortunate in receiving aid...although the Chinese Republic had permitted General Francisco Franco to return to Spain at the head of a "volunteer Army" of 5000 Chinese China was less able to suppy the Republicans due to the sheer geographical distance. That being said, Francisco Franco was able to pursue key military reforms and strategies that allowed the outnumbered and squeezed Republican Army to hold the line. However as the end of year approached many doubted the Republic's ability to survive, squeezed in between two hostile powers...
In the end, France and England choose to side with the Republic - which was purged of it's radical element. The two alternatives to the Republic were bleak - a Soviet-controlled and hostile Communist Spain or a Axis-controlled and hostile Fascist Spain. A "Moderate" Democratic Spain was far preferrable to the alternatives. This is not to say that France and Spain lavished the Republicans with a flood of aid - however the previously closed faucet began to drip - providing the Republic the lifeline it needed. However - France and England could have done more if they were not distracted by a wider conflict. At the end of the 1938 - the borders were the same as it had been at the start of the year.
Phase Four: Great War (1938-44)
The outbreak of the Second Great War was supposed to change things and it did initially. The outbreak of the war led to an outpouring of military aid from all sides in an attempt to end the war as quickly as possible. In reality the military aid just led to greater mortaility rates as men and material were spent on futile attacks. The rest of the Great War went by and the Civil War rolled on in the trenches, the cities and the barrios. Ultimately stalemate was the only realistic option as the sides were evenly matched.
Phase Five: End Game (1944-45)
The Spanish Civil War ended as part of the American-mediated Armistice which finished the Second Great War. The Treaty of Madrid created a decentralized Spain where the Central government lost much of it's teeth. The decentralization was an affirmation that during the course of the Civil War and the Great War Spain had become effectively three Spains. The ensuing Cold War would see whether or not the tenous peace would be kept...
Next Update: 1938 - For want of a shoelace
The Vulture - thanks The Vulture. YOu might say on steroirds!
danderson - Or you might ask - how might he help China...
Wyragen-TXRG4P - Exile to China leads to drug binge = hearing voices in his head that tell him to side with the Republic
trekchu - It's a global publication I believe... much more prominent in this TL..
Nivek - Thanks Nivek. More butterflies to come as a result of this...
demonkangaroo - Bump receivediditoo
_____________________________________________________-
MEGA-SPOILERS AHEAD
The Spanish Civil War
(36-45)
The Spanish Civil War was one of the most drawn out, confused and chaotic civil wars in the history of manking. What was initially a military coup which resulted in two sides fighting eventually resulted in what most political science professors call a "clusterfuck." The end of the war was a reflection of the mutual exhaustion of all parties and the 'victor' was really the last man standing.
The Civil War had four distinct phases:
The situation on August. By the end of the year the Republicans would hold all of the south except Moroco.
Phase 1: Brother Against Brother (1936)
The first phase of the civil war began with a failed military coup attempt. Tensions were already running high in the fragile Republic and the Coup Attempt on 1 July 1936 set the scene for an explosion of tension. Military officers under the overall leadership of Marshall Senjuro attempted to take over key centers of communication and government. However, the Azana government responded decisively arming many of the 'popular front groups.' However what would be now known as the "Militarists" or "Nationalists" successfully gained control of large areas of the country. By the end of December - key front lines had been drawn. It looked as if the conflict would settle into a sort of "stalemate"
Red line = Revolutionary Spain
BLue line = Militarist Spain
Green line = Republican Spain
Phase 2: Outside Intervention (1937-38)
The key factor that would move the conflict out of it's stalemate situation was international intervention. Although foreign aid was dribbling in at the beginning of the conflict - the realization that Spain would play a crucial role in what many saw as an inevitable conflict spurred the powers to keep their allies supplied. Militarist Spain was equipped lavishly by her Italian and German backers who saw Spain as a 'testing ground' for new equipment. Republican Spain was less fortunate, Soviet Aid was forthcoming - but the year would make clear that this came at a price. Soviet cadres began a "popular insurrection" against the Azana Madrid Government, althought they failed to seize control of the apparatus of state they were able to tear a chunk of Spain away from the Republic. The "Revolutionary Spain" was a curious mix of Basque conservatives, Valladoid Anarchists and Moscow-line Communists. Republican Spain was less fortunate in receiving aid...although the Chinese Republic had permitted General Francisco Franco to return to Spain at the head of a "volunteer Army" of 5000 Chinese China was less able to suppy the Republicans due to the sheer geographical distance. That being said, Francisco Franco was able to pursue key military reforms and strategies that allowed the outnumbered and squeezed Republican Army to hold the line. However as the end of year approached many doubted the Republic's ability to survive, squeezed in between two hostile powers...
In the end, France and England choose to side with the Republic - which was purged of it's radical element. The two alternatives to the Republic were bleak - a Soviet-controlled and hostile Communist Spain or a Axis-controlled and hostile Fascist Spain. A "Moderate" Democratic Spain was far preferrable to the alternatives. This is not to say that France and Spain lavished the Republicans with a flood of aid - however the previously closed faucet began to drip - providing the Republic the lifeline it needed. However - France and England could have done more if they were not distracted by a wider conflict. At the end of the 1938 - the borders were the same as it had been at the start of the year.
Phase Four: Great War (1938-44)
The outbreak of the Second Great War was supposed to change things and it did initially. The outbreak of the war led to an outpouring of military aid from all sides in an attempt to end the war as quickly as possible. In reality the military aid just led to greater mortaility rates as men and material were spent on futile attacks. The rest of the Great War went by and the Civil War rolled on in the trenches, the cities and the barrios. Ultimately stalemate was the only realistic option as the sides were evenly matched.
Phase Five: End Game (1944-45)
The Spanish Civil War ended as part of the American-mediated Armistice which finished the Second Great War. The Treaty of Madrid created a decentralized Spain where the Central government lost much of it's teeth. The decentralization was an affirmation that during the course of the Civil War and the Great War Spain had become effectively three Spains. The ensuing Cold War would see whether or not the tenous peace would be kept...
Next Update: 1938 - For want of a shoelace
- CCA
- Word Count: 870