`  == Spanish Civil War == ``It should be noted that some historians place the beginning of the Cold War as far back as 1937, when Joseph Stalin attempted to gain control of Spain``  Sounds really bizarre. First, the Spanish Civil War started in 1936; secondly, Stalin measured his support to the loyalist Republicans, since he did not want to upset his relations with Germany and Italy in the context of the non-agression pact. Stating, as a fact, that ``Joseph Stalin attempted to gain control of Spain``, is really bold.  `