Why did Adolf Hiitler and Benito Mussolini provide aid to the Nationalists during the Spanish Civil War?

Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini provided aid to the Nationalists during the Spanish Civil War primarily to support the rise of fascism and counter the influence of communism in Europe. By backing Francisco Franco's Nationalist forces, they aimed to establish a friendly regime that would align with their ideological goals and strengthen their military alliances. Additionally, the conflict served as a testing ground for their military strategies and technologies, which they would later use in World War II. Their intervention also sought to expand their influence in the Mediterranean and undermine the republican government, which was seen as a threat to fascist ideologies.