WI French Intervention in the Spanish Civil War?

In 1936 France in governed by the Front Populaire, an alliance of parties from the left, including the Communist Party, the radical left, and the SFIO (future Socialist Party). It was in many ways a coalition against the fascism that was getting quite strong in France.
When Franco launched his civil war against Spain's Frente Popular, the Front Populaire was divided, with the Communists wanting to help the Spanish Republicans and the others fearing, if they intervened, that their would be a civil war in France itself. The Prime Minister Leon Blum chose not to act, and their government collapsed.

So, what would be the consequences if Leon Blum for whatever reason do intervene, for France, for Spain? Also, what would the consequences be on WWII, which would probably still happen?
 
In 1936 France in governed by the Front Populaire, an alliance of parties from the left, including the Communist Party, the radical left, and the SFIO (future Socialist Party). It was in many ways a coalition against the fascism that was getting quite strong in France.
When Franco launched his civil war against Spain's Frente Popular, the Front Populaire was divided, with the Communists wanting to help the Spanish Republicans and the others fearing, if they intervened, that their would be a civil war in France itself. The Prime Minister Leon Blum chose not to act, and their government collapsed.

So, what would be the consequences if Leon Blum for whatever reason do intervene, for France, for Spain? Also, what would the consequences be on WWII, which would probably still happen?
The French government falls. They don't have the money to intervene militarily. They do this they'll likely be in even worse shape come 1940.
 
France was not only divided, it was also without an ally, as London was dead set about any kind of intervention in Spain. Blum had not even the support of the Radicals allied with him in his government.
 

Archibald

Banned
France actually send some military hardware but through private channels and without onboard weapons. Aircraft like Potez 540. I think the OP is a good idea and well worth a TL.
 
Keep in mind something. Just the rumour that Blum’s government was going to supply bomber aircraft to the Spanish Republicans was enough to nearly split his government in July 1936; the proposal to send direct military aid would have been certain to.
 

Ramontxo

Donor
Also Franco was astute enough to do whatever he could to prevent any provocations that may have brought France intervention. Like not sending his army north of the Ebro to coup the Republicans in the battle with the said river name as it would have placed it in the vicinity of the French border*.

*As of course this consideration did not prevent him to conquer Barcelona, Girona or Gipuzkoa the allegations that he preferred a longish protracted war to consolidate his power and "clean" Spain and so ordered a frontal attack cannot be forgotten...
 
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You'd need a different government in Britain for this to happen. If a Labour government in London wanted to support the Republicans (even indirectly through volunteers/hardware), it would give Blum a lot more political cover. IOTL, the Conservative government of the UK was effectively pro-Franco in both sympathies and actions (doing as much as possible to prevent foreign assistance to the Republicans, while turning a blind eye to active German/Italian intervention on behalf of the Nationalists).

Interwar France was extremely reluctant to do anything that might alienate the British.
 
I wonder if we could have French interference leading to a more moderate dominated Republican Spain?

I've seen a timeline (disguised as a hoi 2 aar) that sees Britain backing a moncharist wing of the Nationalist and France backing a democratic wing of the Republicans which ends up resulting in those two factions signing a peace treaty and taking over Spain together.
 
I think the French could offer more clandestine support and financial support to the Republican government but not direct intervention and it wouldn't have led to civil war in France. It could have been presented as an attempt to prevent another German ally to their south and to mute the influence of the communists by propping up the liberals and moderate socialists. The political will wasn't there, however.
 
You'd need a different government in Britain for this to happen. If a Labour government in London wanted to support the Republicans (even indirectly through volunteers/hardware), it would give Blum a lot more political cover. IOTL, the Conservative government of the UK was effectively pro-Franco in both sympathies and actions (doing as much as possible to prevent foreign assistance to the Republicans, while turning a blind eye to active German/Italian intervention on behalf of the Nationalists).

Interwar France was extremely reluctant to do anything that might alienate the British.
Assuming this happen (Labour government that chose to indirectly help Republican Spain through volunteers), what would the consequences be on WW2? After all, the SCW would de facto turn into a proxy war between the Allies and the Axis. What would Hitler do in response? IOTL his help was limited because he feared a World War for which he wasn't ready. So he might stop sending help altogether.. or not.
Another interesting possibity is if a French military intervention allows the French tactics to modernize - notably in the use of tanks.
 
Doubt it would have happened, but I remember part of the French planning when it came to a potential intervention was a military occupation of Catalonia, the Balaeres, and all of Spanish Africa.
 
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