What if the Spanish Civil War Lasted Longer?
Inspired by the Alternate History in the last issue, Spain Without Franco, I wondered what it might take to keep the war going a few months longer, so that it would still be going on when WW2 broke out in Sept. 1939. Lets allow events to continue as OTL until the battle of Madrid. This was the first real chance for a Nationalist (i.e. Franco) victory. Madrid housed most of the government, the republican power base and many factories. A Franco victory there would probably have led to the end of the war in short order. During a bloody battle, the USSR sent modern supplies, tanks and aircraft, which allowed the republicans to beat back the nationalists. The war therefore lasted two more years and ended shortly before WW2 with the defeat of the Republicans. Lets consider the possibility of outside, allied, meddling. The western allies, France and Britain, have an interest in the conflict not ever being resolved. A republican victory might, as John figures, result in the Soviet Union develo
