Changes

At the time, the [[League of Nations]] barred international participation in the war and set up a Non-Intervention council.  Britain and France were among the leading nations proposing non-intervention as a strategy to prevent the ideological conflict in Spain from engulfing all of Europe.

At the time, the [[League of Nations]] barred international participation in the war and set up a Non-Intervention council.  Britain and France were among the leading nations proposing non-intervention as a strategy to prevent the ideological conflict in Spain from engulfing all of Europe.

France, however, had sent some materiel to the Spanish Republicans during the early weeks of the war due to their sympathetic government.  This discovery had led Franco to pursue contacts with fascist Italy and Nazi Germany.  Both of these countries provided massive amounts of aid in weapons and soldiers, most of which was free or provided on credit.  Highly notable was Germany's Condor Legion, made up of Luftwaffe units who played an important role in the war and participated in the famous bombing of Guernica.  For the Axis Spain served as a testing ground for the weapons and strategies which they would use during [[World War II]].

France, however, had sent some materiel to the Spanish Republicans during the early weeks of the war due to their sympathetic government.  This discovery had led Franco to pursue contacts with fascist [[Italy]] and Nazi [[Germany]].  Both of these countries provided massive amounts of aid in weapons and soldiers, most of which was free or provided on credit.  Highly notable was Germany's Condor Legion, made up of [[Luftwaffe]] units who played an important role in the war and participated in the famous bombing of Guernica.  For the Axis Spain served as a testing ground for the weapons and strategies which they would use during [[World War II]].

The Republicans, no longer able to seek help from France or Britain went to the [[Soviet Union]] for assistance.  The Soviet Union was wary of entering the war outright as it did not wish to come into conflict with the Axis powers.  The Soviet Union did sell weapons and foodstuff to the Republican government, but did so at the cost of most of Spain's gold reserves.  In addition, instead of providing troops from the Red Army (as Germany and Italy had done from their armies), the USSR sent orders to local Communist parties to organize groups of volunteers to go to fight with the Republicans in Spain, the [[International Brigades]].  Individuals from across Europe (including exiles from Germany and Italy) as well as North America joined, primarily due to an ideological opposition to fascism.  Many famous figures fought in the Brigades, including [[George Orwell]], and [[Laurie Lee]].  In addition to the Brigades, some Soviet military men did go to Spain.  These were, however, mostly pilots and tank drivers who accompanied these vehicles as the Republican army did not have men who were experienced with Soviet equipment.

The Republicans, no longer able to seek help from France or Britain, went to the [[Soviet Union]] for assistance.  The Soviet Union was wary of entering the war outright as it did not wish to come into conflict with the Axis powers.  The Soviet Union did sell weapons and foodstuff to the Republican government, but did so at the cost of most of Spain's gold reserves.  In addition, instead of providing troops from the Red Army (as Germany and Italy had done from their armies), the USSR sent orders to local Communist parties to organize groups of volunteers to go to fight with the Republicans in Spain, the [[International Brigades]].  Individuals from across Europe (including exiles from Germany and Italy) as well as North America joined, primarily due to an ideological opposition to fascism.  Many famous figures fought in the Brigades, including [[George Orwell]], and [[Laurie Lee]].  In addition to the Brigades, some Soviet military men did go to Spain.  These were, however, mostly pilots and tank drivers who accompanied these vehicles as the Republican army did not have men who were experienced with Soviet equipment.

Non-state "volunteers" from many nations, including North American (the so-called [[International Brigades]]), joined the fighting on both sides, including [[George Orwell]] and [[Laurie Lee]] and military contingents sent by [[Soviet Union]] fought with the Republicans, while [[Germany]] and [[Italy]] provided forces on the Nationalist side.

Non-state "volunteers" from many nations, including North American (the so-called [[International Brigades]]), joined the fighting on both sides, including [[George Orwell]] and [[Laurie Lee]] and military contingents sent by [[Soviet Union]] fought with the Republicans, while [[Germany]] and [[Italy]] provided forces on the Nationalist side.