CORPO TRUPPE VOLONTARIE

During the Spanish Civil War, tens of thousands of Italian soldiers fought in Spain to support the fascist Nationalist forces of Francisco Franco

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The Spanish Civil War (1936-39) split the world down ideological lines. Those who supported the left-leaning government of the Second Spanish Republic travelled to Spain in their thousands to join the volunteer International Brigades and other associated groups. Consisting of socialists, communists, anarchists and democrats, these pro-Republican foreign volunteers did not receive official recognition or assistance from their countries of origin such as France, the United States and United Kingdom.

On the other hand, supporters of the Nationalist military junta led by General Francisco Franco firmly included Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy and Portugal. Nationalist forces received supplies of munitions and other equipment as well as air and naval support from these far-right governments. The most infamous example of this foreign intervention was the bombing of Guernica in 1937 when German and Italian aircraft bombed the Basque town. However, what is less well known is that Italy provided the Nationalists with tens of thousands of soldiers who fought across Spain in numerous battles and campaigns.

Fascist volunteers

Ever since Benito Mussolini became prime minister of Italy, he had developed contacts with right-wing groups in Spain. He hosted Spanish politicians and generals in Rome in 1934 who were opposed to the legitimately elected Second Republic and promised them arms and financial support if civil war broke out.