The event that marked the beginning of the Spanish Civil War in 1936 was the military uprising led by General Francisco Franco against the democratically elected Second Spanish Republic. On July 17, 1936, a series of coordinated military actions were initiated, which quickly escalated into a full-blown civil war. The conflict drew international attention, with various factions receiving support from foreign powers—Franco's Nationalists from Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy, while the Republicans were backed by the Soviet Union and international brigades of volunteers. The war ultimately resulted in the Nationalists' victory in 1939, leading to nearly four decades of Franco's authoritarian regime.