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Jennings, Ethan

History

2011

MA

The relationship between Nazi Gennany and Nationalist Spain during World War II was unique. Spain was alone among the European neutrals in that it actively hoped for Axis victory, and supported the Axis in its propaganda in addition to the material support provided by Spain in the form of strategic raw materials. For around a year, Germany attempted to convince Spain to enter the war on the side of the Axis, before finally abandoning its efforts in February 1941 due to the time constraints imposed by the pendinginvasion of the Soviet Union. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between Germany and Spain from 1939-41, focusing primarily on Spain in German strategy and the German perspective of negotiations.
The first chapter details the period of Spanish neutrality, during which Germany sought mainly to advance its economic position in Spain. The following two chapters explore Germany's efforts to convince Franco's government to join the Axis and enter the war, paying particular attention to where Spain figured in German strategic plans for the Mediterranean and in the war against the British. German explanations of Spain's strategic importance did not necessarily reflect the plans of Hitler or the military. Germany's persistence in attempting to bring Spain into the war, however, and the conditions laid out during negotiations, say much about Nazi plans for the postwar world prior to the invasion of the Soviet Union.