Why did the Nationalists win the Spanish Civil War?

Why did the Nationalists win the Spanish Civil War? The Spanish Civil War was to be both bloody and protracted, with a Nationalist victory only being achieved after three years of bitter and arduous fighting. The reasons for the Nationalist victory are both numerous and diverse but whilst military matters such as leadership, quality of troops, strategic objectives and foreign military aid are crucial to any explanation of the Nationalist triumph, these alone do not account for the fall of the Spanish Republic. The inherent weaknesses and divisions within the Republican military and political system were vital to the success of the Nationalist forces throughout the war and perhaps most importantly, the attitudes of the European governments and the eclipse by the greater events in Europe ultimately determined the fate of Republican Spain. The early days of the rebellion were crucial for both the Nationalist and Republican forces and it therefore seems possible that the initial errors made by Casares Quiroga's government sowed the seeds of an eventual Nationalist victory. Although the military uprising had the great advantage of surprise and the backing of the majority of younger officers, it fell far short of its immediate objectives, to take all of Spain's major cities prior to an assault on Madrid. According to the Left, it was the government's refusal to hand over arms to

  • Word count: 3494
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Historical and Philosophical studies
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How did the status and position of Jews in Russia, France and Germany change from 1880-1920?

Lei Wang U5H How did the status and position of Jews in Russia, France and Germany change from 1880-1920? Although anti-semitism pervaded Europe, Russian Jews suffered most. In 1880, five of the six million Jews were living in the Pale compulsorily. Most were peasants, and extremely poor, often targets of racial attacks. However, the position of Jews worsened considerably after the assassination of Tsar Alexander II; one of the terrorists was a Jew. This led to the appointment of Pobedonostsev, a violent anti-semite, as Interior Minister. He introduced the May Laws, forbidding Jews to live in the countryside, go into education, and take up certain occupations. These "temporary laws" lasted until 1914. Pogroms raged all over Russia, encouraged by the Tsar and the Orthodox Church. In 1891 thousands of Jewish workers were evicted from Moscow and the western frontiers. With the 20th century came a new Tsar, with a deepseated fear of Jews, bringing with him the worst pogroms, 607 in one week. In 1905, the Tsar's secret police published the "protocols", implying imminent Jewish world domination. The police were given stronger powers to use against Jews. Violence increased with time. 100,000 Jews emigrated every year; the rest were forced into ghettos in the interior. Many went to the USA, Germany and France. In contrast to the situation in Russia, Jews in France

  • Word count: 602
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Historical and Philosophical studies
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Outline the key stages in Nazis treatment to the Jews

Outline the key stages in Nazis treatment to the Jews Since the victory of Christianity in the 4th century as the prime religion of Europe, Judaism has been considered inferior and the "killer of Jesus Christ". Anti-Semitism has been common throughout history dating back to the extermination of the Spanish Jews in the 15th Century and the "pogroms" encouraged by the Russian Tsar in the 19th. This was able to occur because Jews were normally in the minority in most countries and had no place of religious origin. Hitler continued this trend beginning within Germany with "the maintenance of the purity of German blood" and then expanding his anti-Semitic hatred to the rest of Europe. Jewish business and professionalism had been very successful in Germany after 1871 due to German Jews gaining civil rights making jealousy and anti-Semitic hatred increase in Germany especially amongst the white-collar workers. Hence, a popular political policy since 1918 has been anti-Semitic policies. The Jews became the focus for every problem of Weimar Germany, i.e. inflation, unemployment, economic weakness and the treaty of Versailles. When Hitler came to power in 1933, his anti-Semitic policy/aims were indecisive except he wanted them removed from German society explained in his book, Mein Kampf. There was no direct hint towards the creation of extermination camps. The evolution of the

  • Word count: 1469
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Historical and Philosophical studies
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The disadvantages and advantages of war memorials that are already made

The disadvantages and advantages of war memorials that are already made the anne frank house advantages : .this shows what life was like for a regular jewish person back then 2.it has other information on the holocaust and what is was like 3.it gives us a view on jews and what they went through. Disadvantages : .it doesnt tell what happened in concentration camps 2.this only shows us what she and her family went throught and not the pain others went through. 3.this isnt near where the concretration camps were at the time Miami Holocaust Memorial Advantages : .this symbolises the pain and anguish of jewish people at the time of the holocaust. 2.this is " the last reach of a dying person " and each person that visits the memorial has a different view on " The Sculpture of Love and Anguish ". Disadvantages : .this Sculpture may not give some people an idea on what the holocaust was like. 2.people may not understand what its all about and it shows no information what its

  • Word count: 179
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Historical and Philosophical studies
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Why was the decision to carry out the 'Final Solution' made in 1941?

Why was the decision to carry out the 'Final Solution' made in 1941? 'If it had not been for the terrible events that unfolded between 1933 and 1945, the Jews of Europe would, in all probability have continued to live as they had for nearly a millennium.'1 The 'Final Solution' is the term used for the murder of between 5 million and six million Jews during the Second World War. These Jews were citizens of every pre-war state in Europe and defined by the German Nuremberg Laws of 1935 as any person with one Jewish grandparent. Many were Jews only by the Nazi definition; in their own eyes they were Germans, Frenchmen, Belgians, Dutchmen, Italians and so on. A number of them had been practicing Christians for several generations. To understand why the 'Final Solution' happened in 1941 it is important to understand that it was not the first and only solution considered, thus, a brief summary of events and previous solutions will be outlined. A number of theories that attempt to explain the 'Final Solution' of 1941, such as antisematism, a totalitarian dictator that manipulated his subjects, the timing of the Second World War, xenophobia and opportunism and a look at the views of Intentionalists and Functionalists will be discussed. When Hitler came to power in 1933 the Jews, under German control, numbered just over half a million. Hitler and his Nazi Party aimed to create a

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Historical and Philosophical studies
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In January 1953 the administration of Dwight D. Eisenhower assumed office on the back of an election victory allowing the Republican Party a chance at governance denied them for over twenty years.

In January 1953 the administration of Dwight D. Eisenhower assumed office on the back of an election victory allowing the Republican Party a chance at governance denied them for over twenty years. Eisenhower the internationalist had become the Republican candidate narrowly defeating Senator Taft, representative of the conservative right and isolationist tendencies of the Party1. Eisenhower and his Secretary of State John Foster Dulles faced a bewildering array of foreign policy problems. From within his own party came calls for the renegotiation of the Yalta conference agreements in 1945, which had, it was perceived, given the USSR too much leeway and dominance in central and eastern Europe. Coupled with the lobbying of near hysterical anti-Communists came the moderate voices of others, also gravely worried over Soviet expansionist tendencies. The Korean War (ongoing at the start of Eisenhower's presidency) was, to many, evidence of Soviet probing of western weak spots, looking for a decisive breakthrough and the subsequent world domination of Stalinist-Leninist doctrine. The fall of China to communism in 1949 and the exile of the nationalist Chiang Kai Shek and his large army to Formosa (modern day Taiwan) had caused outrage and dismay in Washington. The charge of complicity befell many politicians and military men alike in the rampant and malicious 'McCarthyism' overtaking

  • Word count: 4037
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Historical and Philosophical studies
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The Soviet Union claimed to have made women equal to men. To what extent did it really succeed in doing so?

The Soviet Union claimed to have made women equal to men. To what extent did it really succeed in doing so? Before the beginning of the Soviet Union, Russia was a deeply misogynistic country; with men being at the head of every household whilst the women were kept under control, for fear that they would distract the men from their work (Edmondson, 1992: 20). When the Soviet Union was established, however, they claimed to have made both genders equal, though I feel this was not entirely true. During the existence of the Soviet Union, women's roles within society changed several times; sometimes they were seen as workers, other times as fighters, and other times as mothers. At the same time, men only had the one role of physical labourers, be it in the factories or on the battlefield. At the beginning of the Soviet Union, Lenin stated that no revolution is possible without the participation of women, and how he aimed to emancipate women from domestic duties so they could become part of the labour force (Lenin, 1966: 99). Once Stalin came in to power, his five-year plan vastly improved employment rates, with women eventually making up 40% of the workforce (Bridger, 1987: 25). Despite this, gender inequality was still evident, as women were assigned worse jobs than men, which was allowed to happen by law (Edmondson, 1992: 139). The iconic images of the Soviet woman on her

  • Word count: 1397
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Historical and Philosophical studies
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Both of the films that I am writing on focus on the landings in 1944 with the soldiers efforts to move up the beach. The film 'The Longest Day' has a less realistic approach to the landings than the film 'Saving Private Ryan'.

Compare the 1st 20 minutes of each film focusing on the landings. Both of the films that I am writing on focus on the landings in 1944 with the soldiers efforts to move up the beach. The film 'The Longest Day' has a less realistic approach to the landings than the film 'Saving Private Ryan'. The opening of 'The Longest Day' starts with music that sounds to be very patriotic and then turns to German panic as they prepare for the allied landings at Omaha. The camera goes back and forth between the Germans and the English to show that they are both getting ready for the battle that will commence. The Germans seem to be in more of a panic than the English as they prepare to fight. As the Germans talk, subtitles are shown as they order each other to get on their guns and prepare, there is no music at this point. As the boats touch the sand the camera is ordered to the back of the boat as it looks out onto the beaches. The allies pour out of the boats although with no running action, more of a jog. There is no gunfire as the allies make their way up the beach in a slow and un-pressured fashion, in contrast to the German panic as they provide somewhat un-effective and lacking fire from their bunkers. The camera at this point is focusing down on the allies from a high post and is static as it watches the soldiers. We then go down to the level of the soldiers as we see two soldiers

  • Word count: 1449
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Historical and Philosophical studies
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To What extent were Germany's problems in the years of crisis 1919-23 caused by external forces?

HISTORY ACCESS - ESSAY QUESTION 1: CLAIRE CRUMP TO WHAT EXTENT WERE GERMANY'S PROBLEMS IN THE YEARS OF CRISIS 1919-23 CAUSED BY EXTERNAL FORCES? To fully answer this question it is necessary to explore the social, economic & political climate both nationally & internationally over this 4 year period. However it is also important to consider the impact on Germany of the years prior to this period: the loss of an all consuming world war & their head of state; huge debt from before & then throughout the war. Although these factors had set the scene it was forthcoming events which were to totally destabilise Germany. In examination of the external factors involved it is the contribution of the Treaty of Versailles which took a pivotal role in the crisis of these years. The enforced reparation payments increased Germanys debts & were to contribute to "the spiralling inflation which undermined the economy". 1 The sanctioned loss of territory under the Treaty was not just a loss of land but a significant economic loss too. It meant the reduction of raw materials & man power. The French claimed the coal rich mines at Saar as repayment for the German destruction of theirs. Iron ore production was also effected. Altogether half of Germanys iron ore, a quarter of her coal mines plus much of the remainder of her coal production (which was mortgaged to the Allies) & 15 % of

  • Word count: 1182
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Historical and Philosophical studies
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Account for the weaknesses of the First and Second Coalitions against France.

Account for the weaknesses of the First and Second Coalitions against France. The French Revolutionary War of the First Coalition which commenced in the early months of 1793 was the first concerted response (if we discount the skirmishes which ended at Valmy in September the previous year ) by an alliance of European powers to the new regime in France, which in February 1793 had buried the ancien regime with the execution of Louis XVI. A combination of Britain, Prussia, Austria, Sardinia, Holland, Naples, Spain, Portugal and, to a lesser extent, Russia should have signalled the demise of the French Revolutionary government already troubled by internal turmoil and still a militarily weak nation. It did not. The First Coalition failed, as did the second by 1800 and Europe was left on the verge of a new era created by Napoleon I. Undoubtedly the most serious weakness of the first two coalitions against France in the 1790's was the disparity of interests and objectives between the 'allied' states. The formation of the First Coalition came at a time when Russia especially, but also Prussia and Austria, were more concerned with events in Poland to commit enough energy to dealing with the French. Although worried by the regicide in Paris, and determined to ensure that the revolutionary fervour did not spread to within their own borders, the immediate interests of the three Eastern

  • Word count: 1852
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Historical and Philosophical studies
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