Galicia and World War II
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The participation of Galicia (Spain) in World War II was marked by its location on Spain's Atlantic coast[1] and its mines. Despite the neutrality of Spain during World War II, the country was affected due to its strategic location. The tungsten mines, such as the Mines of San Fins, were used for the Axis war industry. Extraction and transport of the mineral was carried out by front companies, such as the Finance and Industrial Corporation (Galician: Sociedade Financeira e Industrial).[2]
For the region in Eastern Europe, see History of Galicia (Eastern Europe) § Second World War and Distrikt Galizien.
Hundreds of Galicians traveled to fight with the Germans on the Eastern Front, in the Blue Division. On the other side, former republican combatants fought with the allies, many of them having been confined in French concentration camps.