The last major Republican offensive of the Spanish Civil war, the Battle of the Ebro was an attempt to restore communications between Catalonia and the rest of Republican Spain. It was a vitally important episode in the Spanish conflict and, although ultimately a Republican defeat it proved a severe setback for the Nationalist forces under General Francesco Franco. According to many historians it extended the war for an extra year. Here, the author investigates how, ultimately, it was probably the death knell of the ...
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The last major Republican offensive of the Spanish Civil war, the Battle of the Ebro was an attempt to restore communications between Catalonia and the rest of Republican Spain. It was a vitally important episode in the Spanish conflict and, although ultimately a Republican defeat it proved a severe setback for the Nationalist forces under General Francesco Franco. According to many historians it extended the war for an extra year. Here, the author investigates how, ultimately, it was probably the death knell of the Republic; their armies lost vast amounts of men and materials and they were left incapable of defending their remaining territory effectively. Additionally, under pressure from France and Britain, the International Brigades were withdrawn from Spain during the battle, ending direct military support for the Republic. The consequences for Europe were immense. Franco's ultimate victory created another fascist state; Britain and France's failure to intervene effectively convinced Hitler that the liberal democracies would not oppose him and hastened his invasion of Czechoslovakia, and ultimately the outbreak of World War II.
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