The Spanish Civil War was a brutal conflict that pitted the Nationalist rebels, led by Francisco Franco, against the Republican government. The war, which began in 1936, was a clash of ideologies that drew international attention and intervention, with Nazi Germany and Italy supporting the Nationalists, while volunteers from around the world joined the Republican cause. The conflict was characterized by extreme violence, including the systematic execution of civilians, and it became a symbol of the broader struggle against fascism in Europe.