Then, on January 10, 1941, it declares war on Great Britain, a step timed to coincide with the start of Operation Felix, the Nazi plan to capture the British fortress at Gibraltar. It also promises an expansion of Spanish territory in Morocco at the expense of Vichy France. Its terms assure Spain of badly needed military and economic assistance from Germany and Italy, and the restoration of Gibraltar, which Britain had seized from Spain in 1713. On October 23, he signs an agreement committing Spain to join the Tripartite Pact-which Germany, Italy, and Japan concluded the previous month-at a time to be agreed upon by the four powers. Pleased with this development, Spanish dictator Francisco Franco rejects neutrality and announces a tacitly pro-German policy of nonbelligerence, modeled after that of Italy before its entrance into the war just two days earlier.
Hitler appears certain to conquer Great Britain and win the war outright.
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