February 1936
The Popular Front, a coalition of parties on the political left, wins the general election in Spain, opposed by the National Front, a coalition of right-wing groups.
July 1936
A military coup against the democratically elected government of the Spanish Republic begins with an uprising in Morocco (July 17th), spreading to mainland Spain (July 18th). On July 27th, the nationalist regimes in Germany and Italy provide planes to airlift the Nationalist Army from Morocco to Southern Spain.
October 1936
International Volunteers from around the world begin to arrive in Spain to fight on the side of the Spanish Republic.
January 1937
First American Volunteers arrive in Spain.
February 1937
The Battle of Jarama (also Madrid front) is the first combat for the Abraham Lincoln Brigade.
April 1937
On April 26th, Guernica is bombed by the German Condor Legion (made famous by Pablo Picasso’s painting “Guernica”).
July 1937
The Battle of Brunete near Madrid inflicts heavy losses among American volunteers. As a result, the Abraham Lincoln and the George Washington battalions are combined into the Lincoln-Washington battalion.
August-September 1937
Battle of Belchite. The town’s ruins later become a memorial to the war.
October 1937
Battle of Fuentes de Ebro, where the Canadian Mackenzie-Papineau battalion sees its first military action.
December 1937-February 1938
Teruel is one of the fiercest battles in the Spanish Civil War, eventually lost by the Republicans and International volunteers.
March-April 1938
The Aragon Offensive by the Nationalists led to the withdrawal of the Republican army and International Volunteers (known as the Great Retreats). The Abraham Lincoln Brigade suffered great losses.
April-July 1938
In the Levante Offensive, some volunteers in the International Brigades remained in a northern sector, others retreated to the South, including men of the 129th anti-tank battery.
July-November 1938
Ebro, the longest battle, is the last major Republican offensive and last battle of the 15th International Brigade.
September 1938
The fan is signed by the American, Canadian, and British volunteers fighting on the side of Republicans. On September 21, the Spanish Prime Minister, Juan Negrín, announces the withdrawal of the International Brigades.
October 1938
Farewell parade of the International Brigades in Barcelona where Dolores Ibárruri, known as La Pasionaria, delivers her farewell speech for the International Volunteers. Earlier, La Pasionaria had coined the Republican battle cry “No pasarán!” (They shall not pass!).
April 1939
On April 1, Francisco Franco announces the end of the war. The United States recognizes him. Franco’s dictatorship lasted until his death in 1975.
September 1939
On September 1st, Nazi Germany invades Poland and World War II begins.
