Spanish civil war

[123everton]

What did Churchill attitude to the Spanish Civil War at the time it was being waged?

[jno]

according to the last paragraph in this

http://ww2db.com/battle_spec.php?battle_id=157

he was against Franco, seeing him as a potential fascist ally of Hitler, though he didn't like the communists either.

During WW2 he allegedly bribed Spain to stay out of it.

http://www.timesonlin...pe/article4944902.ece

[heathfield]

Read the last paragraph here...

http://ww2db.com/battle_spec.php?battle_id=157

[heathfield]

Snap, Jno!

[carolegif]

After the war, an embargo was put on Spain by NATO as Franco was the only Dictator left in Western Europe. thousands of people died in Andalusia and it was only the intervention of the Perons that saved lives. Argentina had no money, but they sent beef which could be sold as it was not Spanish produce. Hence their support for the Argentinians in the Falklands War. Franco, in 1950 had the plan to send young Spanish males to work in the US and UK as labourers and waiters etc. so they could send Sterling and dollars home to help the Spanish economy. It worked! Then tourism took over in the late 50's early 60's and the rest, they say, is history!

[123everton]

Thanks, I believe Admiral Canaris was close friends with Franco and convinced to stay out of the war, Canaris also advised Hitler against an alliance with Spain as the country was so poor it was militarily useless and would have meant Germany having to find food for millions more people.
Stragically I would have thought it useful as Gibraltar would be very difficult to defend from the land.