In July 1936, tensions in Spain reached a boiling point as conservative military leaders, discontent with the leftist Popular Front government, orchestrated a coup d'état. This rebellion was the culmination of escalating conflicts between the right and left factions since the Popular Front's electoral victory in early 1936. Notably, General Francisco Franco emerged as a key figure during the initial stages of this uprising. Initially, the rebellion met with varying levels of success, with insurgent forces quickly taking control of several regions, including parts of southern Spain and the Canary Islands. However, the government's loyalists launched immediate counter-attacks, leading to fierce confrontations in major cities such as Barcelona and Madrid.

The rebellion quickly polarized Spain into two main factions: the Republicans, who supported the government and consisted of labor unions, left-wing parties, and anarchists, and the Nationalists, comprised of military leaders, conservative entities, and fascist groups. As the war escalated, foreign powers began to intervene, with Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy supporting the Nationalists, while the Soviet Union and various international brigades provided assistance to the Republicans. The civil war became a battleground for competing ideologies, drawing attention from around the globe and foreshadowing the ideological conflicts that would erupt in World War II.

The war lasted until April 1, 1939, leading to significant loss of life and destruction across Spain. It resulted in the establishment of Franco's dictatorship, which would last until 1975. The societal and political divisions exacerbated by the civil war had long-lasting effects, shaping modern Spain's political landscape and collective memory, and influencing global attitudes towards fascism and communism during the subsequent decades.