Franco’s Justification for the 1936 Military Uprising
The Genesis of the Spanish Civil War: Franco’s 1936 Appeal
This document analyzes a political and historical text, self-authored by Francisco Franco (then General Commander of the Canary Islands), concerning the military uprising that initiated the Spanish Civil War.
The Coup of July 18, 1936
The coup d’état, launched on July 18, 1936, was primarily orchestrated by Generals Mola (Pamplona) and Sanjurjo (Lisbon). In the immediate aftermath, Franco issued an appeal directed exclusively to the military forces.
This appeal reinforced the military’s self-perception as the saviors of Spain, obligated once again to intervene, echoing their perceived role during the nineteenth century. Franco utilized his vision of reality to justify the coup, primarily by accusing the political Left of being the source of Spain’s national ailments.
Franco’s Justifications and Accusations
Franco leveled several specific accusations against the Republican government and associated groups:
- Land Appropriation: He claimed the CNT (National Confederation of Labor) was illegally appropriating land, leading to a lack of control in rural areas, given that many of its members were peasants.
- Political Instability: He blamed the Popular Front for the ongoing political crisis and continuous trade union strikes.
The Reality of the Political Crisis
In reality, the crisis stemmed from deep divisions within Spain. Right-wing groups were accused of obstructing necessary reforms and progress. Simultaneously, left-wing anarchists were harming the Republic through vacillations (inconsistent participation) and internal conflicts.
In his discourse, Franco referred to the trade unions, warning that Communists were fighting against them and against Republican politicians. It is important to note that at that time, Communism held little political weight in Spain, a situation that would drastically change during the Civil War.
The Military Uprising and Initial Threats
The coup required all regional military commands (Capitanías) to rise simultaneously. Franco issued a clear, though vaguely worded, threat:
The energy used in sustaining order would be in proportion to the magnitude of the resistance being offered.
This statement implied that while the goal was to suppress the enemy, punishment would be meted out strictly in proportion to the resistance encountered.
Key Supporters of the Uprising
The uprising garnered support primarily from conservative elements:
- Conservative military officers
- Landowners
- Monarchist groups
- Catholic groups (supported by the Church)
Conflicting Objectives of the Plotters
The ultimate objectives of the coup were initially unclear, as different factions held divergent goals:
- General Mola: Sought to establish a temporary military dictatorship until order was restored, followed by elections to determine Spain’s political future.
- Alfonsine Monarchists: Desired the return of the Alfonsine monarchy.
- Carlists: Advocated for the traditionalist monarchy.
- Falangists: Aimed for a totalitarian regime modeled after Italian Fascism.
Contradictions and the Post-Coup Regime
In the text, Franco referenced the French Revolution slogan: Liberty, Equality, Fraternity. This reference appears contradictory, as that slogan was historically used to overthrow monarchy and establish a republic, precisely what the coup sought to reverse.
Initially, the military’s stated intention was not to damage Spain but to modify it—to preserve the positive aspects of the Republic while removing the negative. However, once the Civil War began, Franco ignored these initial promises.
The New State: Falange Española Tradicionalista
Franco banned all political parties and trade unions associated with the Popular Front, persecuting those loyal to the Republic. He only accepted the Falange and the Traditionalist Communion (Carlist). He subsequently created a new system of governance, modeled on German and Italian fascist states, called the Falange Española Tradicionalista de las JONS, with Franco as its undisputed leader.
The Cost of Failure
Had the coup succeeded immediately, the subsequent events might have been different. If the initial appeal’s promises had been honored, the Civil War might have been averted, preventing the atrocities that followed.