The Soviet Union during the interwar period: military aid to China and Spain (1936–1941)

Abstract

This article aims to address similarities and differences in military aid pro-vided by the Soviets to China and Spain in their war against imperialismand fascism respectively, considering the influence that one had on theother, given that the occurred at the same time. Operation X andOperation Z had both material (military supplies) and human components(advisers and volunteers) that played fundamental roles in the defence ofthese republics, which until now have been studied independently.Incorporating recent works on the particular historiography of both con-flicts together with personal research work, this article intends to approacha comparison of both aids and their relationship with Soviet foreignpolicy