Explanation: During the Spanish Civil War, the democratically elected and socialist government of the Spanish Republic sent the country’s gold reserves abroad to keep them from being seized by the fascist coup supporters in the coming years. Around 75% was sent to the Soviet Union, and around 25% to France. When the Spanish Republic was finally defeated by the fascists, the fascist government of Spain requested the Spanish Republic’s gold to be returned.

France had an internal legal fight over it. The Soviet Union just smiled and noted that they already (over-)charged the Republican forces for every last ounce when selling them equipment and ‘services’.

No no, that’s the Republic’s gold and that ain’t you, Franco