Effects of the Spanish Civil War

Social

Economic

Political

• 100 000 Republicans and 70 000 Nationalists killed
• White Terror launched after war to prevent uprisings from opposition: estimated 40 000 - 200 000 killed
• Republicans or sympathisers sent to prison/for 're-education'
• 500 000 Spaniards fled to neighbouring countries during the terror
• 1946: Famine, agriculture had not been modernized
• Government ruled through terror and propaganda

• 10-15% of wealth destroyed through the war - led to high inflation
• Income was 28% lower per capita in 1939 than in 1935
• 70% of Madrid's factory machinery needed replacing, communications and tram networks needed replacing
• A third of merchant ships had been destroyed- unable to export as much
• Lack of skilled workers, labour shortages
• Despite recovery during WWII (remained neutral), Spain was exploited by Germany for resources and demands for payment for its aid
• Remainted an agricultural economy - landowners didn't want modernization

However, during Cold War Spain became less isolated and modernized during 1950-60's

• It was "as if it was a country occupied by a victorious foreign army" (Preston)
• Franco remained dictator until he died in 1975
• White terror presented as 'saving the country from Communism'
• 1939: Law of Political Responsibility passed- Republicans liable to punishment for their role in the war, land taken form them, not allowed jobs, large fines/death penalty
• Wages of working classes cut, industrial activity outlawed, trade unions destroyed
• Civil Guard used to repress revolts
• World War Two: defeat of fascism, Franco more vulnerable, King restored and Franco made Head of State

USSR and Communism

Germany and Italy

Britain and France

USA

• Communism and the USSR had been undermined
• Supporters in the rest of Europe became disillusioned
• Increased hostility between Soviets and Germany
• Change in Stalin's foreign policy: had to persue appeasement since collective security had failed and the West had been unwilling to get involved
• 1939: Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact

• German army had been tested and strengthened: Blitzkrieg used in Spain highlighted importance of air power, tanks shown to require improvement
• Hitler and Mussolini's relationship strengthened
• Italy would now allow/support German expansion in Eastern Europe 
• 1938: Anchluss of Austria

• Appeasement considered the best policy: polarization led to the belief that there would be a war between fascism and communism and they would not be involved
• Increased fear of war: civilian bombings in Guernica
• Communism still perceived to be a greater threat than fascism
• Hitler saw Britain as a weak power that could be exploited, lost respect - encouraged German agression 

• Continued isolationism
• 1946: Placed economic sanctions on Spain, excluded from Marshall Aid
• Changed during the Cold War as Franco was strongly anti-USSR
• 1951: American grant to Spain, US could use airbases, became an American ally and joined the UN