The Spanish Civil War Author:Hugh Thomas Spain in the early 1930's seemed far removed from modern Europe and the firces stirring there, but in 1936, and for three years therafter, Spain was the scene of a savage civil war that eventually involved the whold Western World and was, in fact, a prelude to World War II. — Internationally the Spanish Civil War ws an extension of all the princi... more »ples, beliefs, forces and iterests then presnt. Every European government and United States became involved in some manner.« less