Account for Spain’s neutrality in the Second World War?
One could argue that no word has a set definition and can be translated in many different ways. With this in mind one can differentiate between a ‘traditional’ and personal interpretation of a word. As for me personally, the term ‘neutral’ in terms of countries and conflicts signifies a non participant in fighting occurring outside of their jurisdiction. Taking this into consideration we can firmly determine that Spain, under the rule of Franco, was not a neutral country. After all, a man is better defined by his actions rather than his words. Following the brutal and bloody Civil War from 1936-1939 in which the Generalissimo rose victorious, with military help from both Germany and Italy, …show more content…
It is clear to me to see that Franco had an emotional commitment to Hitler. When first beginning his regime, he looked to the fascist regimes of both Hitler and Mussolini and mirrored their policies, particularly in trying to achieve Autarky. This emotional connection is magnified when both Germany and Italy aided Franco’s victory in the Civil War and so he inevitably would have felt indebted to them. Franco wrote many letters to Hitler, one in particular ending in “firm faith in your imminent and final victory…”. Additionally, we can see that Franco is in awe of Hitler. He believed wholeheartedly and admittedly, ‘blindly’ that Germany was going to win the war. Due to this confidence, he decided to join the war on the side of Hitler, solely leaving negotiations as to when, not if, this entrance would happen. According to Preston in ‘Franco’, the Caudillo’s tone ‘oozed wide-eyed adulation of Hitler’ and is quoted saying “One appreciates as always the sublimity and good sense of the Führer”. On 16th September 1940, Suñer travelled to Berlin to deliberate the dates of when Spain would enter the war, discussing the previous offers of Spanish belligerency. Suñer explicitly declares that Spain is ready to enter the war once the Caudillo’s demands of aid and support had been met. This …show more content…
Due to the Generalissimo’s actions whilst he was proclaimed neutral he repeatedly dishonoured these policies by permitting German submarines and planes to use Spanish land and replenishing said German military with food and fuel. In 1940 the Caudillo declared Spain non-belligerent instead of neutral, aligning himself publically with the Axis countries in hope of a future victory, declaring that he would, within the confines of his neutrality, do all possible to aid Germany and Italy. In the coming years, Franco lost confidence in an Axis victory and in 1943, described Spain as a ‘neutral’ state once again. However, this shift of position came too late and was wholly
One could argue that no word has a set definition and can be translated in many different ways. With this in mind one can differentiate between a ‘traditional’ and personal interpretation of a word. As for me personally, the term ‘neutral’ in terms of countries and conflicts signifies a non participant in fighting occurring outside of their jurisdiction. Taking this into consideration we can firmly determine that Spain, under the rule of Franco, was not a neutral country. After all, a man is better defined by his actions rather than his words. Following the brutal and bloody Civil War from 1936-1939 in which the Generalissimo rose victorious, with military help from both Germany and Italy, …show more content…
It is clear to me to see that Franco had an emotional commitment to Hitler. When first beginning his regime, he looked to the fascist regimes of both Hitler and Mussolini and mirrored their policies, particularly in trying to achieve Autarky. This emotional connection is magnified when both Germany and Italy aided Franco’s victory in the Civil War and so he inevitably would have felt indebted to them. Franco wrote many letters to Hitler, one in particular ending in “firm faith in your imminent and final victory…”. Additionally, we can see that Franco is in awe of Hitler. He believed wholeheartedly and admittedly, ‘blindly’ that Germany was going to win the war. Due to this confidence, he decided to join the war on the side of Hitler, solely leaving negotiations as to when, not if, this entrance would happen. According to Preston in ‘Franco’, the Caudillo’s tone ‘oozed wide-eyed adulation of Hitler’ and is quoted saying “One appreciates as always the sublimity and good sense of the Führer”. On 16th September 1940, Suñer travelled to Berlin to deliberate the dates of when Spain would enter the war, discussing the previous offers of Spanish belligerency. Suñer explicitly declares that Spain is ready to enter the war once the Caudillo’s demands of aid and support had been met. This …show more content…
Due to the Generalissimo’s actions whilst he was proclaimed neutral he repeatedly dishonoured these policies by permitting German submarines and planes to use Spanish land and replenishing said German military with food and fuel. In 1940 the Caudillo declared Spain non-belligerent instead of neutral, aligning himself publically with the Axis countries in hope of a future victory, declaring that he would, within the confines of his neutrality, do all possible to aid Germany and Italy. In the coming years, Franco lost confidence in an Axis victory and in 1943, described Spain as a ‘neutral’ state once again. However, this shift of position came too late and was wholly