I.

Introduction

Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), conflict in Spain following the failure of a military rebellion to overthrow Spain's democratically elected government. The war divided Spain both geographically and ideologically. It brought to power General Francisco Franco, who ruled Spain from the end of the war until his death almost 40 years later. By the time the war was over, an estimated 500,000 people had been killed in combat or by execution, or had died as a result of hunger or wounds. An additional 250,000 to 500,000 supporters of the losing side left Spain to avoid persecution.