Spanish Civil War From 1936 to 1939 a military rising starting in Morocco, lead by General Francisco Franco, spread rapidly all over the country, thus starting the Spanish Civil War. After a number of bloody battles, in which fortunes changed from one side to the other, the 'nacionales' (nationalists) finally prevailed and made a victorious entry into Madrid (March 28th, 1939). The tragic death of Calvo Sotelo had the effect of accelerating a military corps that had been …showed first 75 words of 510 total…

…showed last 75 words of 510 total…of the Ebro (July-November 1938) which ended with a Republican defeat and 70,000 casualties. Once government resistance was exhausted, the Republican exile began with many Spaniards fleeing across the border into France. Catalunya fell on February 10, 1939. Madrid was the only city still resisting, and the proposals of peace made by its Junta de Defensa (lead by Casado and Besteiro) were useless. Nationalist forces occupied the capital on March 28, 1939, and on April 1, General Franco officially ended the war.