Spanish Civil War The Spanish Civil War ( 1936 - 1939 ) was a conflict in which the Nationalists and Republicans fought for control of Spain . The war began in July 1936 . ( PROSE : " History 101 " ) It was caused by a group of conservative generals revolting against the democratic government out of fear that traditional Catholic values were being undermined and the government was leaning towards Communism . The Nationalists ' original leader was José Sanjurjo , who was killed in a plane crash caused by the fact that he was carrying too much luggage . He had wanted to look impressive when he took power . He was succeeded by Francisco Franco . ( AUDIO : " Fiesta of the Damned " ) The Republicans were supported by the Soviet Union , and so they were seen as supporters of Communism . The Partido Obrero de Uniﬁcación Marxista ( POUM ) , a Spanish communist party , fought for the Republicans , but they differed from the Russia n communists and opposed Joseph Stalin . Also in support of the Republicans were the anarchists , notably Buenaventura Durruti . The Confederación Nacional del Trabajo was the major anarchist group . The Basque army also supported the Republican party , as did the Guardia de Asalto , the Spanish police force . The various political groups that made up the Republican force had very different ideologies and so , they were internally divided . The Nationalists were , in some part , supported by fascists . The Nationalists organised an embargo to prevent international aid for the Republicans . They had the French sign a policy of non - intervention . The Nazi s supported the Nationalists and the Luftwaffe bombed both Guernica and Durango at the request of the Nationalists . Franco claimed that the Republicans had destroyed Guernica themselves while in retreat . Many foreign journalists entered Spain to report on the war ; George Orwell visited Spain to witness the fighting and took part in it , fighting for the Republicans . In 1936 and 1937 , the Eighth Doctor and Anji Kapoor stayed in Barcelona for a few months while investigating anomalies in history . They pretended to be British journalists reporting on the war . The city was under the control of anarchists and so they associated with them , in particular , Eleana Domínguez . Barcelona was nearly inaccessible by sea as the area was mined to destroy supply ships . Meanwhile , Fitz Kreiner travelled with Sasha to view the bombing of Guernica . This act was widely reported across Spain as a horrific event , but the exact details were in dispute . This was due to The Absolute affecting people ' s perceptions . Upon returning to Barcelona , Fitz fought alongside Joaquín and the POUM in a street battle that erupted between them and the regular communists . After the fighting ended , the POUM were accused of inciting violence among the Republicans to aid the Nationalist forces . ( PROSE : " History 101 " ) In 1938 , the Battle of the Ebro River was a decisive Nationalist victory over the Republicans . It proved to be the crucial battle of the war . ( AUDIO : " Fiesta of the Damned " ) In the winter of 1938 , the Seventh Doctor , Ace and Melanie Bush arrived in Spain during the war . The Doctor intended to give his companions " a taste of the real Spain " . They ended up with a group of Republicans who were on the run from Franco ' s fascist army and also fought an alien seeding device . ( AUDIO : " Fiesta of the Damned " ) In 1939 , Franco led his army to victory , with Barcelona falling into his hands . ( PROSE : " History 101 " ) He ruled Spain until his death in 1975 . ( AUDIO : " Fiesta of the Damned " ) The Doctor saved Gustavo Riviera ' s life during the Civil War . ( AUDIO : " The Rapture " )