12. Hitler’s Decision to Help Spain’s Rebels
In March, 1936, Hitler had successfully stared down Britain and France. The Fuhrer sent German troops into the Rhineland, in blatant violation of the terms of the Treaty of Versailles, and faced no consequences aside from feeble protests. A few months later, the Berlin Olympics had been a huge success, and the games burnished the image of the Third Reich and its leader. Franco’s envoys were fortunate that the meeting took place at the annual Bayreuth Festival in honor of Hitler’s favorite composer, Wagner. The German dictator was in a particularly good mood, and inclined to be generous when the Spanish emissaries requested help to transport their veteran forces from Spanish Morocco to Spain’s mainland. Franco wanted 10 German transport aircraft, with air and ground crews. Hitler doubled that, and sent him 20 Junkers Ju 52s.
