Spain and World War I

Spain maintained a position of neutrality during the First World War. The reasons for this official position were several:

• The military weakness of the country, also involved in the control of the Moroccan protectorate.
• The scant political weight of Spain, converted into a secondary actor on the international stage and lacking any interest in Central Europe or the Balkans. This position allowed it to remain outside the system of international alliances that was forged in the years prior to the conflict.
• The Spanish economic weakness, palpable in the budget deficit and in its insufficient industrialization, prevented its participation in the arms race that the future belligerent countries fostered.
• The fear of the outbreak of a possible social revolt in case the participation ends in defeat.

However, Spanish society was divided into two main currents:Allied and German. These affinities were based on the appreciation that existed in Spain of the two contending sides:while the allies (France and Great Britain) were associated with liberalism and democracy and, consequently, were backed by social and political sectors of center-left, the central empires will be supported by conservative sectors based on the preponderance of ideas of order and discipline, so dear to their politicians.
Despite the official position of neutrality, Spain also became a scene of the confrontation, as shown in the recent book "Spain in the Great War" by Fernando García Sanz. According to this author, there were three factors that broke Spanish neutrality:-The control of Spanish mineral resources (tungsten and lead) by the allies. -The espionage work, especially in the Spanish ports of the Mediterranean, basic to control this sea. -German attacks on Spanish merchant ships, sinking about 80 ships. The following podcast comments on the work and the Spanish situation in the years of the conflict, recounting how Spain was involved despite not participating directly in the war.

Bibliography:

García Sanz, Fernando (2014) Spain in the Great War:spies, diplomats and traffickers. Galaxy-Gutemberg, Barcelona.

See also:http://cultura.elpais.com/cultura/2014/03/12/actualidad/1394652543_292104.html

Podcast:


http://www.ivoox.com/player_ej_2949692_1.html