The Spanish Civil War was far more than a national conflict, it was a testing ground for the ideas and alliances that would soon ignite World War II. This engaging course explores the passions, ideals and tragedies that divided Spain and drew thousands of international volunteers, including Australians, into a fight against fascism. Through illustrated lectures, firsthand accounts and lively discussion, students will examine the political tensions of 1930s. No prior knowledge is required, just curiosity about history, global conflict and the forces that shaped the twentieth century!
Face to face
Spain in Crisis and the Road to War
- Political and social tensions in 1930s Spain
- Europe between the wars
- Causes of the Spanish Civil War and competing ideologies
Spain and the World: Ideology and International Conflict
- Fascism, communism and democracy
- German and Italian intervention
- The Non‑Intervention Pact and Western democracies
- The war as a prelude to World War II
Revolution, Division and the May Days
- Revolutionary Barcelona
- George Orwell and Homage to Catalonia
- Internal conflict within the Republican camp
- The significance and consequences of the May Days (1937)
The International Brigades and Australians in Spain
- Anti‑fascism and international solidarity
- Recruitment, propaganda and combat experience
- Australian volunteers: motivations, experiences and global context
Victory, Dictatorship and Memory
- Franco’s victory and consolidation of power
- Repression, exile and the Spanish genocide
- Spain’s dictatorship, transition to democracy and contested memory
- The legacy of the Spanish Civil War today
LEARNING OUTCOMES
By the end of the course, participants will be able to:
- Explain the causes and key events of the Spanish Civil War
- Identify the ideological divisions shaping the conflict
- Understand the role of the International Brigades
- Analyse why Australians volunteered to fight in Spain
- Explain the significance of the May Days (1937)
- Describe the nature of Franco’s dictatorship
- Evaluate the Spanish Civil War as a prelude to World War II
