Nationalist faction (Spanish Civil War)
On the 24th of July 1936, a clandestine Spanish delegation led by Captain Francisco Arranz visited Nazi Germany to request war materiel. Joseph Goebbels coined the term Nationalists during this visit to provide a cloak of legitimacy for German intervention in Spain. The rebel faction leaders had already been called Crusaders by Bishop Enrique Pla y Deniel of Salamanca and immediately embraced the new terminology. Throughout the civil war, members and supporters used the term National while opponents referred to them as fascistas or facciosos. The label Blancos appeared alongside rojos to distinguish the two sides, though some authors consider these terms linked with propaganda from that faction.
The Falange Española was originally founded by José Antonio Primo de Rivera with financial assistance from Alfonsist monarchists. Upon formation, the party remained officially anti-clerical and anti-monarchist despite its fascist origins. By September 1936, total Falangist volunteers numbered at 35,000, accounting for 55 percent of all civilian forces of the Nationals. In 1937, Franco announced a decree unifying political movements under the name Falange Española Tradicionalista y de las JONS. Both Falangists and Carlists were initially furious at the decision, seeing their ideological role usurped by the Catholic Church. Franco distanced the party from fascism after seizing leadership, declaring that no ideological rigidity would interfere with incorporating the great neutral mass of the unaffiliated.
More than 13,000 Moroccan troops were airlifted on 20 Junkers Ju 52 planes supplied by Hitler between July and October 1936. The Regulares operated as shock troops in exchange for substantial pay, with calculated cruelty intended to instill terror in Republican defense lines. One in five members of the Army of Africa died during the war, a casualty rate twice as high as peninsular forces within the Nationalist faction. Approximately 47% of the Spanish Republican Civil Guard defected to rebels during the onset of civil war. Rebel units remained under direct command of the Nationalist army until hostilities ended in April 1939. For several years after the war, Franco maintained a squadron of Moorish troops as his escort at public ceremonies.
By January 1937, an expeditionary force of 35,000 Italians formed the Corpo Truppe Volontarie under General Mario Roatta. Italy provided fighter and bomber aircraft that played significant parts in the war while sending Roberto Farinacci to urge political unity among Nationalists. Nazi Germany supplied tanks including Panzer I models and aircraft like Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighters and Heinkel He 111 bombers. The Condor Legion tested many aeronautical bombing techniques against Republican Government forces on Spanish soil. Portugal's Estado Novo regime provided critical logistical support through an 8,000, 12,000-strong volunteer force known as Viriatos. In 1938, Portugal recognized Franco's regime before signing the Iberian Pact treaty of friendship following the war.
The Holy See allowed the Nationalist pavilion to display its exhibition under the Vatican flag during an International Art Exhibition in Paris in 1937. By 1938, the Holy See became one of the first states to officially recognize Franco's Spanish State. Religious persecution was squarely blamed on the Republic government by conservative traditionalists and pro-monarchic groups. Francoist propaganda labeled the secular Republic as the enemy of God and the Church while denouncing anti-clerical activities. Devout Catholics supporting the Spanish Republic included high-ranking officers such as republican Catholic general Vicente Rojo Lluch. The Catholic Basque nationalists opposed the rebel faction despite shared religious identity with their opponents.
Common questions
Who coined the term Nationalists for the Spanish Civil War faction?
Joseph Goebbels coined the term Nationalists during a visit by Captain Francisco Arranz to Nazi Germany on the 24th of July 1936. The rebel faction leaders immediately embraced this new terminology after Bishop Enrique Pla y Deniel had previously called them Crusaders.
When did the Falange Española unify under Franco's decree in 1937?
Franco announced a decree unifying political movements under the name Falange Española Tradicionalista y de las JONS in 1937. This decision caused initial fury among both Falangists and Carlists who saw their ideological role usurped by the Catholic Church.
How many Moroccan troops were airlifted to Spain between July and October 1936?
More than 13,000 Moroccan troops were airlifted on 20 Junkers Ju 52 planes supplied by Hitler between July and October 1936. One in five members of the Army of Africa died during the war, which was a casualty rate twice as high as peninsular forces within the Nationalist faction.
Which countries provided military support to the Nationalist faction during the Spanish Civil War?
Nazi Germany supplied tanks including Panzer I models and aircraft like Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighters while Italy formed an expeditionary force of 35,000 Italians known as the Corpo Truppe Volontarie. Portugal's Estado Novo regime also provided critical logistical support through a volunteer force ranging from 8,000 to 12,000 men called Viriatos.
When did the Holy See officially recognize Franco's Spanish State?
By 1938, the Holy See became one of the first states to officially recognize Franco's Spanish State after allowing its pavilion to display under the Vatican flag at an International Art Exhibition in Paris in 1937. Religious persecution was squarely blamed on the Republic government by conservative traditionalists and pro-monarchic groups.