Between the
two world wars in Europe, there was only major
military conflict the Spanish Civil War fought between the Nationalist under
Franco and the Republicans who fought to protect the left wing government. The Soviet Union was quick to offer aid to the Republicans,
the equipment including Polikarpov fighters and Tupolev SB-2 bomber. Italy under
Mussolini supported Franco by sending 700 aircraft, including S.M79 Sparviero
and B.R.20 bombers and S.M.81 bomber transports.
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| Polikarpov I-15 |
The
Nationalist however had already asked for assistance from a far more formidable
ally Germany.
The Third Reich saw the Spanish Civil War as a great opportunity it was a means
of taking the world’s attention
