The Spanish civil war
- A republic is formed after the king abdicates in 1931
- Government formed from left wing, communists, socialists and anarchists (Republicans)
- Right wing opposition to government supported by: church, army and Falange
- Led by general Francisco Franco
- Essentially pitted fascism against democracy and communism (WW2)
- Italy and Germany support Nationalists with troops and equipment
- Germans try out new tactics such as Blitzkrieg and the luftwaffe bombing of cities (Guernica)
- Britain and France declare to be non-interventionists
- USSR supported Republican government
- Fascists win