AHC: World War II starts over Spain?

[Master Xion]

During the Spanish Civil War, Germany and Italy gave support for Franco while the only support the Republic got was from the USSR.

What if the British and French intervened in the Civil War on the side of the Republic and this sparked WWII?

Is that plausible or is it ASB?

 

[Bourbonic Plague]

I think it's ASB. Germany was still rearming and was in no way prepared for war in the West. They had Austria and Czechoslovakia on their minds.

 

[RightHoJeeves]

Hitler would back down before letting it escalate into a general war. His goal was still unification of the German speaking peoples of Central Europe and building up the military, Spain was basically a sideshow where the Luftwaffe could gain some tactical and operational experience, not a major aim in of itself.

 

[NOMISYRRUC]

IIRC the British position was that intervening in the SCW would lead to it escalating into a general European war for which HM Forces were not prepared.

Similar reasoning was applied when Mussolini invaded Abyssinia. The UK was strong enough to defeat Italy. However, what was effectively the entire Royal Navy as it existed at the time would be required to contain the Regia Marina. Although the RN was expected to defeat the RM the British would loose some large warships and while the Anglo-Italian War was going on the Japanese would help themselves to Hong Kong and Singapore.