Spain during World War II

 

This video is about Spain during WWII. During the Second World War Spain, under the dictatorship of Francisco Franco, remained officially neutral, but its position was complex and fluid. Having just emerged from a brutal civil war (1936-1939), Franco's Spain in WW was in no condition to engage in another conflict. However, Franco was ideologically aligned with the Axis powers, especially Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy, both of which had supported him during the Spanish Civil War.

   Franco offered limited, unofficial support to the Axis. For instance, Spain during World War Two allowed German U-boats to use its ports and provided intelligence to the Axis. The most significant contribution was the Blue Division ("División Azul"), a volunteer unit that fought alongside the Germans on the Eastern Front against the Soviet Union. Despite this, Franco was wary of fully committing to the Axis cause, mindful of Spain's weakened state and the potential consequences of alienating the Allies.

   Spain also engaged in economic relations with both sides, selling tungsten to Germany while maintaining trade with the Allies. As the tide of war turned against the Axis, Franco increasingly distanced Spain from them, eventually adopting a more neutral stance to avoid repercussions from the Allied powers, thus preserving Spain's post-war stability.