Asturias Revolution 1934 and the Popular Front in Spain
Revolution of Asturias (October 1934)
Following the election victory of the right, the Socialists raised the possibility of a popular revolution. To understand this attitude, it is necessary to consider events that were unfolding in Europe, especially the rise of Hitler in Germany. These facts were interpreted by large sections of the left as a preview of what could happen in Spain, given the similarities of the political situation. The spark that ignited the revolution was the formation of a new government even more reactionary than the former because it incorporated the first three CEDA ministers. The uprising was a failure in most parts of the country. In Barcelona, the Catalan state was proclaimed in the Spanish Federal Republic, which survived a single day because the army dominated the situation. The only place where the insurrection triumphed was Asturias, where they had signed a regional covenant (the Workers’ Alliance) between Socialists, Anarchists, and Communists, to socialize the means of production in a revolutionary movement together. The government sent troops from Morocco, led by General Franco, finally smothering the rebellion. The repression was characterized not only by its hardness but also for its arbitrariness. About 30,000 arrests were made, and numerous death sentences were issued, but eventually, senior representatives were pardoned, and only lower-ranking leaders were executed.
The revolution led to a sharp political polarization. On the left, the repression that followed the October Revolution encouraged a concentration of forces, which led to the creation of the Popular Front. It also contributed to the rise of fascism in Europe and the recommendation of the Communist International to stop it through the formation of anti-fascist fronts composed of all leftist forces.
In late 1935, a deep political crisis opened in the government whose only solution was the dissolution of the Parliament and calling new elections. One of the main reasons for this crisis was the collapse of Lerroux’s Radical Party as a result of two major scandals that marked some of its most prominent members. The first was the black market scandal, which involved, among others, the son of Lerroux. The second was economic corruption allegations against several radical governments. Lerroux was acquitted in both cases, but his political career and his party were destroyed. Therefore, the situation had to be resolved by an election to define a new parliamentary majority.
Popular Front Victory: Elections in February 1936
With the experience of what happened in previous elections, the left saw the need to present a united election, which was configured as the Popular Front, which brought together all the left: from Azaña’s Republicans to Communists, with the support of even the Anarchists.
In the February 1936 elections, the Popular Front gained an absolute majority. However, the first government that was formed was composed exclusively of Republicans. Just four days after forming, the first government decreed, as agreed between the forces of the front, amnesty for all those who had been punished for the 1934 revolution. The next step was the restoration of the Statute of Autonomy for Catalonia. In addition, land reform was revived in 1932.
Finally, Congress ousted President Alcalá Zamora and elected Manuel Azaña to the position, with Casares Quiroga as prime minister. In the end, they formed a second government composed only of Republicans. The PSOE, dominated by a more radical sector led by Largo Caballero, opted for the socialist revolution, which was believed to be imminent.
During the spring of 1936, a climate of social and political radicalization was experienced, which manifested itself in violent clashes between the right and left. Both sides seemed to prepare for the final confrontation.