The aeroplane as an highly effective weapon had been tremendously modified since the first world war, and at the famous bombing of Guernica and other events, the Germans got a chance to test their newly developed Junkers Trimotor bombers, their Heinkel fighters, and their Incindiary bombs and see how important the aeroplane would really be in future war situations. The fact that when the Germans bombed Guernica, they also bombed a nearby bridge, which was of great importance as an escape route for the Republicans, shows that their strategic war knowledge had increased remendously. The Italians also tested their new planes, but with over 70 000 troops on Spanish ground, they had more focus on seeing their new war strategies and tactics being practised.
As Hitler and Mussolini continued with their raiding and military helping of Franco in Spain, they realised that the neutral powers would not join the democratically elected Popular Front
and aid it in the war against fascism, hence they lost their respect of Britain, France, and
USA, now believing that these countries were weak and of no threat to their plans. The fact
that neither Britain nor France reacted towards Germany and Italy, made the “rehearsal” even
more successful for the aggressive powers because it proved they could act as they wish, and it gave Hitler and Mussolini important self confidence when taking their first steps towards the second world war.
The role of the soviet in the crisis was rather small; they had come to support their fellow
Spanish communists, but as they brought in their new weapons their only achievement was to prolong the war, and the eventual downfall of the democracy in Spain.
The Spanish Civil war also had impact on what sides the different nations turned out to fight for during the Second World War, there where two sides, on the right side you found the fascists and on the other side were democrats and communists.
That the Soviet chose to support the Popular Front was because this was coalition party in which the communists were members, but they were also frightened by the “weakness“ their allies Britain and France were showing.
Germany and Italy chose to ally with Franco to secure that communism wouldn’t spread in Spain. Britain and France found themselves unable to choose sides and since they hoped that rearmament would not be necessary, they were not training for war, and stayed neutral during the crisis.
It is true to say that the Spanish Civil war was a “dress rehearsal” for Germany, Italy, and the Soviet, because they could test their newest weapons and strategies. They were also able to analyse the British, French and American reactions. For Britain and France on the other hand it was not as much a testing of their weapons, but it made them realise that once again they were bound for war.
