On March 28, 1939, Nationalist forces under General Francisco Franco entered Madrid, ending the Spanish Civil War after nearly three years of fighting that killed over 500,000 people. The war had drawn international involvement -- Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy backed Franco, while the Soviet Union supported the Republic. The conflict served as a testing ground for weapons and tactics that would be used in World War II, including the terror bombing of Guernica.
Today in History
March 28, 1939
What happens when a civil war becomes a rehearsal for an even bigger one?
On March 28, 1939, Nationalist forces under General Francisco Franco entered Madrid, ending the Spanish Civil War after nearly three years of fighting that killed over 500,000 people.
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Today In History: What happens when a civil war becomes a rehearsal for an even bigger one?