The 1936 Spanish election caused a series of chaos due to the election of the left-wing "Spanish Republicans". And it is more difficult for the left to control Spain's already chaotic situation than a right-wing government that emphasizes order.

As a result, the Spanish right-wing parties demanded that the former prime minister declare martial law and not hand over power in order to prevent the country from falling into anarchy. General Franco, a military strongman, also advocated martial law throughout the country, but was rejected by the former Spanish prime minister.

Franco, who was rejected, not only did not get discouraged, but secretly organized a coup d'état without doing anything.

On July 18, 1936, Franco led a rebellion against the Spanish colonial forces in Morocco and the Canary Islands. Franco's national army quickly invaded large and medium-sized cities such as Cádiz, Seville, Zaragoza, and Burgos in mainland Spain.

As a result of the preparations in place, most of the units of the Spanish Army and Air Force, as well as a Moroccan "Foreign Legion", took part in the rebellion. The few government forces in Spain were defeated and retreated.

For a time, Franco's national army quickly occupied Spanish Morocco, the Canary Islands, the Balearic Islands, and the northern and southwestern provinces of the Spanish mainland, and on July 30, the "National Defense Ruling Council" was established in Burgos, in an attempt to flank Madrid from the north and south, and then seize national power.

But Spain's republican government is not sitting still. Through the strategy of trading space for time, the Spanish government called on all sectors of the population to take up arms to defend the Republic. A militia of 300,000 people, the People's Guard, was formed.

Franco's National Army, on the other hand, was unable to sustain a large-scale offensive because it did not receive the military assistance originally promised by the British government. The situation that had been in favor of the National Army was reversed, and the rebellion in large and medium-sized cities such as Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Cartagena, Malaga and Bilbao was quickly quelled.

At the end of July, Franco's National Army controlled only Andalusia in southern Spain and the economically backward provinces of Galicia, Navarre, and Old Castile in the north. Government forces control all industrial and political centres, major ports, communication arteries and important agricultural areas.

As a result, the national army and the government army on the Spanish battlefield formed a delicate north-south confrontation situation. However, such a confrontation clearly disadvantaged Franco's poorly established National Army.

At Franco's front-line headquarters in Seville, Franco is working with Mora, the No. 2 leader of the National Army, to study the next step.

"The delicate confrontation can't go on with the Republican Army like this!" Mora anxiously said to Franco: "The area we control is significantly behind the area controlled by the Republican Army. Once the war develops into a protracted war, sooner or later we will be dragged down! ”

"General Franco, our troops have found on the battlefield that the People's Guard under the Republicans has recently been armed with a large number of German-made weapons. Although most of these weapons were outdated weapons that the Germans eliminated after World War I, the People's Guard did strengthen itself with a large base. One general, who had accompanied Franco all the way from the colonies to the mainland, said uneasily: "The republicans control the country's gold reserves, and they can buy weapons in large quantities. But our weapons are getting fewer and fewer, and it won't be long before we run out of ammunition! ”

Franco angrily hammered the map on the wall, and said sullenly: "Those fools, in order to win this civil war, actually did not hesitate to use a lot of gold saved by successive governments to exchange for a lot of backward weapons. In this way, even if the war is won, Spain will be completely reduced to a third-rate country in Europe. ”

"It's time for us to find a strong foreign helper!" A senior staff officer, wearing the rank of colonel, stepped forward and suggested to Franco, his old superior.

"But what can we do in exchange?" Franco sighed and said, "Besides, if we go to ask for help at this time, the price we will pay will be unimaginable." ”

Hearing this, Mora, who was Franco's right-hand man, stepped forward and said, "General, the government of the republic has not hesitated to use the state treasury for victory. So, what do we have to worry about? Whoever wins, the cost is inevitable. ”

"That's right, General." The senior staff officer followed suit: "Once we lose, we will all be pushed to the gallows by the victorious side." In any case, we should first find a way to win this war. ”

Franco's cronies, the generals, echoed this sentiment loudly: "Our ideology is closer to the expectations of the Germans than the Republicans. If the Germans can help the republicans for the sake of profit, they can also support us for the sake of profit. Resources, ports, military bases, we can all promise the Germans in advance. As long as the interests are sufficient, there is no reason why the Germans should not help us. ”

Franco was finally persuaded by his own cronies, nodded and said, "This time we can't just contact the UK before, and put all our hopes in one basket." In addition to Germany, Italy, which has shown great strength in Ethiopia, should also be contacted as much as possible. And Portugal, a country that is close to us, and with their support, we can connect a small area of control to the north and change the north-south confrontation into an east-west confrontation. ”

After making up his mind, Franco immediately called three of his staff and arranged: "You will go to Portugal, Italy, and Germany tonight. Enlist their military assistance as much as possible, and whether we can win or not depends on your eloquence. ”

After thinking about it, Franco added with some hesitation: "Try not to give up too many benefits, I don't want to be a sinner in Spain." ”

This military dictator, who has historically fought for Spain's best interests, is still trying to defend Spain's best interests at this moment. It's a pity that he forgot a truth, when asking for someone, the supplicant has no right to speak.

"Report!" A liaison officer hurriedly broke into the headquarters and reported loudly: "General Franco, the Republican Army has launched a large-scale offensive in Córdoba and Granada, and our defenders are about to be overwhelmed. ”

Hearing this, the senior staff officer who knew military affairs exclaimed loudly: "God, once these two strategic towns are lost. The IRA will be able to encircle our 20,000 elite troops left behind in the Bulge in one fell swoop, and thus flank our front-line headquarters in Seville. ”

Franco's heart sank, and he frowned and changed his words to the three staffers: "No matter what, we must get military assistance." No matter what the price, I give you the right to say yes. ”

"Let's go now," Franco said eagerly, waving his hand, "We're running out of time, the sooner you arrive, the better." ”

After speaking, Franco turned to a general behind him and said, "Order, the Irish volunteer battalion and the Moroccan volunteer division assembled in the salient march towards Córdoba." Granada can't hold it, but Córdoba, as the gateway to the front command, must hold on to me! ”

Mora on the side was worried: Give up Granada, will Córdoba be able to hold on?