It's been revealed in hitherto unreleased documents that an incident in Ibiza during the Spanish Civil War could have caused a war against Germany. In May 1937 the 'Deutschland' a pocket battleship of the 'neutral' Nazi German fleet was anchored just outside Ibiza harbour. On the 29th two Soviet pilots fighting for the Republicans mistook the ship for the 'Canarias,' a cruiser used by Franco's forces.
The bombs they dropped killed and injured around 100 of the Deutschland's crew. The Nazi reaction was swift and merciless. Two days later the German fleet bombarded Almeria – from where the
planes had flown – killing and injuring hundreds and destroying many buildings in the process.
The Republican Government seriously considered declaring war on Germany because of this, believing that public and political opinion would be on their side should the Civil war expand
internationally. The plans were abandoned not only on tactical and ethical grounds but also to avoid further bloodshed.
Footnote. Around 19,000 German airmen of the Condor Legion saw service fighting for Franco in the Civil War and were responsible for bombing Guernika in April 1937. The Deutschland saw action all
through WWII and was eventually scuttled in 1945 during a battle in the Baltic sea.
Isn't history fascinating?