Why did the Axis powers help Spanish civil war general Francisco Franco?

Question

And did this add to the tension between European powers that led to WW2??

Answer 1

They wanted to train and practice, try out their new weapons and tactics.

Supporting another Fascist leader (Franco) in his time of need would surely make him return the favour with support against Britain in Gibraltar, access to Atlantic ports and supplies of iron and other metals (esp. wolframite). It would tie down the French on three fronts in the event of a war too.

It's just that Franco ripped them off-lots of promises but no delivery on millitary support in WWII apart from some covert refuelling and resupply of Uboats.

The left leaning French government was desperate not to give the Spanish or their allies a reason to widen the war. It polarised the politics into left and right in the western European democracies-many politicians secretly (or not so secretly) felt the Fascists were the lesser of two evils, or even admired them for their efficiency.

Answer 2

long story

essentially because both Hitler and Mussolini were in conflict with communists inside their own countries- and the communists (and the USSR) were supporting the "democratically elected" republicans in Spain

Actually these 'democrats" dropped their pretense at democracy and started expropriations and in many cases mass executions of "reactionnaires"- whose crime was being a priest, nun or monk or being rich, or being accused of being rich by some "revolutionnary"

Franco was in Africa at that time and probably would not have cared much except the "democrats" began arresting (and executing) military officers (and their families) on suspicion of plotting a rebelion (no proof- just a firing squad. Nice democratic method)

End result- they got the rebellion they were trying to prevent

it did NOT add to pre-war tensions. All of Europe at that time regarded the executions made by the "republicans" with disgust. Look up the composition of the naval blockade around Spain- the Brits, French, Italians and Germans cooperated. Real United Nations

Of course the communists around the world (and all others who were caught by propaganda) disagreed- but then they were not part of governments.

The participation of Italy and germany in Spain occured after the "assistance" of the USSR was made public- by sending weapons, tanks and aircraft (all paid in gold- so much for communist "brotherhood") as well as "volunteers" - which all too often were soviet career soldiers and security officials.

There was also the "international Brigade" (look up Hemingway) of well intentioned volunteers- but their officer corps were all communist soviets and any volunteer who was one too independent minded ended up dead. As did all the "Anarchists" - by firing squad at the hands of communist "brothers"

Answer 3

Kind of long story, interesting reading if you look it up. Simply put, Franco was a fascist, as was Mussolini. Hitler was even more than a fascist - he was a totalitarian dictator. Franco was fighting the democratically elected "liberal" government. Hitler, Mussolini, and Franco were all very "right-wing." There you go for the very short answer.

It really didn't add to the tension because the western powers did not aid the nationalists against Franco. I would say anschluss and other events added much more to the tension.