What was Spain's role and involvement during WWII?

Question

Were they allied with the Axis or the Allies or did they remain neutral?

Jose M - Actually, I believe they sided with the Germans. So, I'm not too sure they helped the US during the war.

Answer 1

Spain was officially neutral with strong leanings toward Germany. Since they were indebted to Germany for their help in the Spanish Civil War, they gave material, economic, and military support. This was also given to the allies. Spain was playing the middle man and during the beginning of the war kept its troops in the south just in case the allies attack. Later in the war they shifted there troops along the northern border of France after it was given reassurances that the allies would not attack.

German intelligence was allowed to operate in Spain. Also, downed allied pilots and Jewish refugees were allowed to enter.

Answer 2

I think he did in a sense. I mean, could you imagine how horrible things would have been if Hitler had conquered all of Europe, and possibly most of the world, during WWII? It would have chaos, and I for one don't think that God would let that happen, because the world would be ruled by a man TOTALLY against God (he was against Christianity). I know it's sad when you think of the millions of lives lost during the war, but every time I think of those people who died, I become very thankful and grateful that they died for my freedom, and for yours too. We must never forget what they went through, most of them young men who had their whole lives ahead of them but gave that up so that people all around the world could live in freedom, and wouldn't have to live under a fascist leader like Hitler. And I believe that all of the men who died are in heaven (so I hope, though I don't know), because there is no greater love than to die for another human being (John 15:3).

Answer 3

Spain had a fascist government during WWII. Hitler tried to get Spain to align with him, but the Spanish government was weary of Hitler's style of government and remained neutral.

Answer 4

The Spanish Civil War has been called the first battle of the Second World War; under General Francisco Franco, Spain was neutral in the Second World War though sympathetic to the Axis.

Answer 5

Spain was nominally neutral but sympathetic to their fellow fascists in the Axis. One of the more interesting roles they did play during the war was to act as a proxy power for one side to the other in diplomatic matters. For example, when the US and Canada started interning ethnic Japanese residents of North America, Spanish representatives acted on behalf of the Japanese government to ensure that interned Japanese citizens could exercise as many consular rights the American or Canadian authorities would allow them. Spanish diplomats were invited to inspect internment facilities and submit reports to the Japanese government as well as the few international organizations (ie the Red Cross) that existed at the time.

Answer 6

Though they had Axis leanings and looked the other way at some minor bending of the rules by German ships, they were neutral. Geography being what it is, there were concerns with the strategic importance of Gibraltar, and the concerns were especially acute during Operation Torch that Germany might even invade, but they stayed neutral and uninvaded throughout.

Answer 7

They were associated with the Axis, but never declared war. They were officially neutral, as was said before, and helped both sides, as was said before.

Their main role was to serve as a (secret) place where hunted u-boots could hide for a while while allied patrols gave up and then they could sneak back out to sea.

Answer 8

That's a good question

Answer 9

They were neutral. A "volunteer" Spanish division, called the Blue Division, fought for Germany in Russia.

Answer 10

spain also had sort of an indirect involvement in aiding germany during the war. during the spanish civil war, hitler aided francisco's armies with equipment and troops. but he didn't do it out of the kindness of his little nazi heart. instead, he wished to experiment with different techniques of warfare, most notably "terror bombing." examples of this can most famously be seen in guernica, spain where the luftwaffe attacked a village of a few thousand people. guernica had no strategical advantages at all, except to demonstrate to hitler how effective bombing civilians could be. of course, out of the attack came "guernica" (and my personal fave) by picasso.