Key Figures & Events of the Spanish Civil War
Cardinal Segura: A Controversial Figure
Cardinal Pedro Segura Sáenz was a prominent Spanish cleric and a key member of the Church hierarchy. He served as Cardinal Primate of Spain and Archbishop of Seville. He held the position until his death in 1957, although he was ousted in 1931 and returned in 1937.
General Cabanellas: Leadership in the Nationalist Uprising
General Miguel Cabanellas, a senior general, presided over the National Defense Council established on July 24, 1936. Although he held this position, General Francisco Franco ultimately commanded the Nationalist forces.
CEDA: The Rise of the Right-Wing Coalition
The Spanish Confederation of Autonomous Rights (CEDA), led by José María Gil-Robles, united various right-wing movements, including the Regional Right of Valencia, the Catalan League, and elements of moderate Basque nationalism. CEDA’s primary support base was in the interior of Spain. Some members of the confederation employed tactics reminiscent of fascism, such as mass social mobilizations. CEDA drew its support from Catholic groups and the agricultural and financial oligarchies.
Although CEDA won the November 1933 elections, ushering in a new phase of the Republic governed by the right, it did not initially form a government. Instead, it supported the Radical Party and Lerroux. In May 1934, three CEDA ministers entered the government, triggering widespread unrest among leftist voters who saw this period as a move towards fascism. This climate of revolt culminated in the October Revolution in Asturias and Catalonia.
The revolution’s consequences, its repression, and the scandals involving the Radical Party led to the fall of the Radical-CEDA government. Leftist parties, united in the Popular Front, won the 1936 elections.
CTV: Italian Support for the Nationalists
During the war, the Nationalists received significant support from Italy, which sent 70,000 men, known as the Corpo Truppe Volontarie (CTV), along with substantial war material. Their interventions were often crucial.
The Non-Intervention Committee: A Failed Attempt at Neutrality
The Non-Intervention Committee was created in August 1936. Many countries were concerned about the conflict in Spain, where democracy and totalitarianism were at stake. Some nations wanted to intervene, while others opposed it. The committee, comprising 27 countries, was largely ineffective, as Germany and Italy consistently ignored its decisions.
Political Commissars: Control and Conflict within the Republican Army
The creation of political commissars within the Republican army established a system of political and social control over military units. This often led to rivalries based on political affiliation, potentially disrupting the chain of command. Communist commissars held significant influence within the General Commissariat of War, aiming to exert control over the armed forces.
The practice of appointing commissars in militia units originated with various parties and unions at the war’s outset to maintain vigilance over morale and the loyalty of professional officers. However, a governmental body was established in October 1936 to centralize and regulate this practice. Commissars were seen as a means to monitor and curb potentially unfair actions by professional officers.
The Iron Belt: A Defensive Fortification
The Iron Belt was a fortification built by the Basque government along the river valleys around San Sebastian and Bilbao to protect the city when it fell into Nationalist hands.
Colonel Casado: A Key Military Figure
Colonel Segismundo Casado was a Spanish military officer and head of the escort for the President of the Second Republic. During the Civil War, he served on Largo Caballero’s staff, organized the mixed brigades in 1938, and replaced General Miaja as army chief of the Center.