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The war
began when military forces under General Francisco Franco staged a
coup against the Republican government, in order to establish an
authoritarian right-wing regime. The insurrectionists were opposed
by a coalition of liberals, socialists, and Communists. Nazi Germany
and Fascist Italy helped the rebels almost from the beginning of the
war. On the other hand, volunteers from throughout the world fought
on the Republican side, seeing the war as a chance to take a clear
stand against, and stop the spirit of, Fascism. After heavy losses,
the insurrectionists won the war and set up a dictatorship under
Franco in early 1939.
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