Civil War Series: Spanish Civil War

[Helsinkian]

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Civil_War

Previously:

English Civil War
Jacobite rising of 1745
War in the Vendée
Taiping Rebellion
American Civil War
Russian Civil War

[Former President tack50]

Republicans. We already know what would have happened if nationalists won, so let's look at the possible scenarios that can happen in my opinion if the republic had won:

- Spain stays a democracy, Hitler doesn't invade during WW2 or the invasion is defeated. Definitely better than Franco's time

- Spain becomes communist, Hitler invades during WW2, Spain falls. It is liberated during WW2 alongside France and becomes a democracy after the war.  Better than Franco although rebuilding the country will be harder. Though in this scenario you might see all of Germany and/or Austria turn communist instead.

- Spain becomes communist and either is able to defend against Hitler, or Hitler doesn't invade.

Now, I'm not sure if the US would have allowed a Soviet satellite state in the middle of western Europe or if Spain would have actually been a Soviet satellite state (maybe it becomes something closer to Tito's Yugoslavia or a weird anarcho-communist state). But even in this case it's only slightly worse than Franco (Franco died in 75, this communist Spain would last until 1990 or so).

[Statilius the Epicurean]

The legitimate and democratically-elected government of Spain. 

[Lumine]

Without hindsight I'd probably be an enthusiastic Nationalist, if one eventually disappointed by Franco's seizure of power and the failure to restore the exiled King.

[Pyro]

The legitimate and democratically-elected government of Spain. 

[Arturo Belano]

The legitimate and democratically-elected government of Spain. 

[Mr. Smith]

The legitimate and democratically-elected government of Spain. 

[Chunk Yogurt for President!]

Abstain, both sides were so horrible.

[JonHawk]

Nationalists

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

Despite my non-small r-republican convictions, it's clear Spain would have been better off if the Republicans won. They clearly had a bigger commitment to liberty and freedom than the nationalists ever had.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

The legitimate and democratically-elected government of Spain. 

[Dr. MB]

The legitimate and democratically-elected government of Spain. 

[SNJ1985]

Nationalists

[The Govanah Jake]

The legitimate and democratically-elected government of Spain. 

[Murica!]

a las barricadas etc

[Zioneer]

The legitimate and democratically-elected government of Spain. 

The Spanish Republican government, and the Abraham Lincoln Brigade!

[Kingpoleon]

The Republicans, as they would have (probably) supported democracy.

[Gass3268]

No question the Republicans.

[MAINEiac4434]

[Santander]

The legitimate and democratically-elected government of Spain. 

[they don't love you like i love you]

All liberal, all the time. That should make my answer obvious.

[beaver2.0]

Nationalist, but in support of one of the minor nationalist groups. 

[🦀🎂🦀🎂]

Very obvious answer for me, even if I didn't have an idealogical bias: the Republicans. The atrocities they committed - mostly anticlerical - were awful, but they represented a breakdown in leadership rather than actively promoted by the leadership as was true for the Nationalist leadership.

Nationalist, but in support of one of the minor nationalist groups.  

Why would a red avatar support any of the nationalists? If you're referring to the monarchists, then a) they aren't talking about cuddly constitutional monarchs but movements hostile to democracy and universal suffrage and b) they supported the Bourbons, who were (and are) the worst European royal family.

[America Needs R'hllor]

The legitimate and democratically-elected government of Spain.