On March 28, 1939, the Nationalist forces led by General Francisco Franco seized Madrid, the fiercest battleground of the Spanish Civil War. This marked a decisive turning point in the brutal three-year conflict and effectively confirmed Franco’s victory.
The Spanish Civil War began in 1936 when right-wing military forces, including Franco, launched a rebellion against the Second Spanish Republic. At the time, Madrid was the capital of the Republic, making it a city of immense strategic value to both sides.
Franco aimed to end the war early and take power by capturing Madrid. However, the Republican forces, bolstered by the International Brigades and the strong resistance of civilians, managed to defend the city for three years.
The Spanish Civil War drew intense attention from the international community. The Soviet Union, as the leader of the communist bloc, supported the Republican side, while Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy backed Franco’s Nationalists. Many foreigners, including members of the International Brigades, came to Spain to fight based on ideological convictions. With the help of Germany and Italy, the Nationalist forces gradually gained the upper hand.
In early 1939, Franco’s army took control of Catalonia and advanced toward Madrid. The Republican forces, suffering from severe shortages of supplies and a collapse in morale, could no longer resist. Eventually, Franco’s troops entered and occupied the city. The fall of Madrid signified the effective end of the Spanish Civil War.
With his victory, Franco took control of the entire country and established a dictatorship that would last for 36 years. The war left deep scars on Spanish society, and the harsh repression of the defeated Republicans further intensified social divisions. The Spanish Civil War is considered a precursor to World War II and a harbinger of the ideological confrontations that would define the Cold War era.