From the November 2021 IBDP HL History Paper 3 exam
Written strictly under exam conditions:
EXAMPLE II:
Transcript:
The Spanish Civil War was a brutal civil war, the effects of which are still present. Though the Spanish are very prideful in their country and culture nowadays, a certain distaste is present when looking at how different provinces interact with one another. The Spanish Civil War (SCW) was bloody and long, and this can mainly be attributed to foreign involvement, which is also the main reason why the Nationalists won and the Republicans failed. While many historians argue that the disunity among the Republicans was the reason behind their defeat, this essay will argue that it was in fact foreign policy that was the reason behind Franco's win, looking specifically at Germany's and the USSR's contributions. The Republicans' main reason for losing the SCW was due to the aid that the Soviets didn't provide. While it is true that the Republicans had internal disunity, this isn't to say that the disunity wasn't a limiting factor. The Republicans were made up of many different parties, from anarchists to the elected party of Cabarello, and their different ideologies and beliefs sometimes got in the way. As George Orwell hints in his "Homage to Catalonia", the Republicans at times seemed to forget who the enemy was and fought themselves, almost creating a civil war inside a civil war. However, what most fail to notice is how this was only during times of rest, as their allies, the USSR and International Brigades, kept the fighting at bay when in the battlefield. However, it was Soviet aid that truly impacted the result in the SCW, as their efforts were not maintained throughout the war. An example of this is with the tank T-26. When the tank was brought into the SCW in 1936, it had just been created and was one of the most potent tanks there was, being able to face Germany's Panzer I with ease. An example of this was in the beginning of the war, where the Nationalists were quickly traversing Spain and ultimately came to the outskirts of Madrid. By luck, the USSR had just sent the T-26 which, in three months, had scared off the Nationalists from Madrid. If it hadn't been for the Soviet's involvement, Franco would have managed to easily take over Madrid, ultimately leading to the quick defeat of the Republicans. However, this effort was not seen throughout the war. Stalin was only involved in Spain to have a power on his side in international relations and for the gold he was receiving for his help. However, by 1937, his foreign aims changed completely, leading him to not need a victory in Spain and he slowly stopped sending new equipment and asked for his officers and generals back. This was critical for the Republicans, as this last year of the war was key for their victory. This is once again seen with the T-26, which by 1938, had been completely ineffective due to its weak armour. This was seen in the Battle of Ebro, where the newest German tanks wiped out all of the T-26's in less than two hours. Due to not having the necessary equipment, it was clear that the Republicans were slowly retreating, leading to Franco's win. The Nationalists, on the other hand, had received an immense amount of help from the Germans. While one could argue that it was due to manpower that the Nationalists won, as they started with 22,000 more soldiers than the Republicans, this idea is overrated. After all, the most important weapons present in the SCW were tanks and planes, which Germany provided. A good example of such aid is with the Panzer I, which took Franco's troops from Seville to Toledo in a record-breaking speed. They were only stopped once they reached Madrid, and once Germany realized this was due to the machine gun they had attached on the tank, they developed the tank into the Panzer II and sent it back to the Nationalists. This portrayed how dedicated the Germans were to the Nationalist cause, as well as how the constant development of technology allowed the Nationalists to improve their warfare and ultimately win. However, the Germans also helped in the skies, as seen with the infamous Condor Legion, which with 6 planes in 2 hours killed 1,200 people in Guernica in 1938. This incredible speed was due to the large capacity of bombs that the plane could hold, as well as its supersonic speed. This allowed the Nationalists to quickly escape the areas they bombed so that they didn't have to face a dogfight with the Republicans, which saved them lives and planes. Overall, the German help was a great contribution to Franco's win.
