Something I've been playing with a little bit: based on a POD that after the German and Italian governments extended official recognition to the Nationalists as the legitimate government of Spain, the Soviets counter by openly and heavily supporting the Republicans - arms and armament shipments are increased, troops are deployed and Red Fleet units are seconded to the Republic. When the Non-Intervention Committee complains, the Soviets point towards the presence of the Condor Legion and the Corpo Truppe Volontarie, and say they are only matching those forces. In 1938 the Communist Party of Spain launches a successful coup, taking complete control of the organs of the government and openly allying with the USSR. Soviet forces are withdrawn with the signing of the Nazi-Soviet Pact, but the Nationalists are already on the ropes and the Spanish Communist forces declare the war over in May 1940.
The Spanish refuse Soviet demands for intervention in the Second World War, though expeditionary forces are sent, a foreshadowing of the often difficult relationship between the two nations. A member of the Warsaw Pact, the Spanish are a major target of Western Intelligence agencies, while they lend themselves to assisting Communists in Latin America. The suppression of the Catalan and Basque states during the Communist takeover was never forgotten, and as the weaknesses of the Communist system became apparent in the 1980s, those areas became increasingly restive. Events came to a head in late 1987, when army units stationed in Catalonia refused to suppress demonstraters, and the state ground to a halt. When the dust settled at the opening on 1988, the former Spanish Soviet Socialist Republic was no more, and the Spanish, Catalan and Basque republics stood proudly independent on the world stage.
República Socialista Soviética Española
National Emblem:
National Flag:
Naval Ensign:
War Flag:
Jack:
Badge for Revolutionary Guard units; pattern for Banner of the Revolution Medal:
The post-Communist Spanish Republic was ruled for the first three years of its existence by a thinly-veiled successor to the Communist Party, but lost the first election of 1991. The incoming government restored the insignia and flags of the Second Republic, but the transitional markings are below:
Arms:
Flag:
Jack:
