 It has also been suggested that Franco decided not to join the war after the resources he requested from Hitler in October 1940 were not forthcoming.According to some scholars, after the Fall of France in June 1940, Spain did adopt a pro-Axis stance (for example, German and Italian ships and U-boats were allowed to use Spanish naval facilities) before returning to a more neutral position in late 1943 when the tide of the war had turned decisively against the Axis Powers, and Italy had changed sides.Franco was initially keen to join the war before the UK was defeated.