Speaker: Jean-Paul Salles, Doctor of History, specialist in 20th-century history

On July 18, 1936, General Franco's armies staged a coup d'état against the Spanish Republic and its Popular Front government. While traditionalist regions and right-wing and extreme right-wing forces rallied behind General Franco, this was not the case in Catalonia, the Basque Country and Madrid, regions and cities where workers took up arms and temporarily overcame the military rebellion. These regions saw the beginnings of a revolution, spurred in particular by the anarcho-syndicalists. Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany soon reinforced Franco's camp with massive aid in the form of fighters and equipment. In contrast, the British and French governments decided on a policy of non-intervention. The Communists organized the International Brigades, with the support of the USSR.