Bernhardt
- a German businessman living in Spanish Morocco at the time and a member
of the Auslandsorganization (AO - the Foreign Organization of
the Nazi Party). Franco convinced Bernhardt to try to persuade the German
government to send the Nationalists ten transport aircraft and then
sent Bernhardt to Bayreuth, where Hitler was attending the annual Wagner
festival. Using his AO contacts, Bernhardt was able to win an audience
with Hitler, where he pleaded Franco's case to the Fuehrer and gave
him a letter written by Franco himself (in Spanish, no less - Hitler
had to have it translated). After spending some time deliberating and
going over the latest reports on the Spanish situation, Hitler concluded
that because of the danger that would ensue if a Communist government
prevailed in Spain, Germany should aid the Nationalists, and promptly
sent Franco twice the requested number of transport aircraft.5
Germany soon became much more involved in the Spanish conflict. It proceeded
to set up HISMA (Compañía Hispama-Marroqui de Transportes)
soon after the July 1936 decision to send aid to Franco. HISMA was a
company based in Spanish Morocco, set up as a cover for Germany to give
arms to Spain in exchange for Spanish goods and raw materials. Although
such economic support proved important, Germany made a more lasting
impression when it committed 3,786 men, 37 officers, and 92 planes to
what became known as the "Condor Legion." The Condor Legion
was sent to fight in Spain in November 1936 and did not return to Germany
until after the fall of Madrid, leading to the end of the Spanish Civil
War in March 1939.6 The Condor Legion
had a decisive