Looks at the background to the war: the five turbulent years that led to the crisis in July 1936 when a group of generals rose to overthrow the Republican government.
In response to the intervention of fascist European states into the Spanish conflict, volunteers from around the globe were organized into the International Brigade to defend the Spanish Republic.
In October, 1936, General Francisco Franco was named Chief of State by the Nationalists. In 1939, the General seized control of the government and established a fascist dictatorship in Spain.
