Key Figures & Events: Spanish Second Republic
Republican Action
It was the first progressive and republican political grouping, founded in 1925 by Manuel Azaña, under the name of Political Action. In 1930, it became a political party, adopting the name Republican Action. Among its defining characteristics were its support for autonomy, anticlericalism, commitment to agrarian reform, and reform of the army. In 1930, the left-wing sector of the party, led by Marcelino Domingo, split off and formed the Radical Socialist Republican Party (PRS).
Alcalá Zamora
A professor of Procedural Law and highly respected lawyer, he began his political career at an early age within the Liberal Party. He was a deputy for La Carolina and served as Undersecretary of the Interior from 1905-1907. He later joined the Democratic field led by Manuel García Prieto, in whose government he was Minister of Development and War. He also represented Spain at the League of Nations and was an avowed opponent of the dictatorship of General Primo de Rivera.
Popular Action
A Spanish political party with a Catholic confessional stance during the Second Republic, it was the core that gave rise to the Spanish Confederation of Autonomous Rights. It was hastily established on April 29, 1931, initially under the name of National Action until 1932, when it changed its name to Popular Action. Its promoter, Ángel Herrera Oria, was the editor of El Debate, which became the official organ of the party. It emerged as a defender of the Catholic religion, property, and family. It announced its principle of abiding by the new republican legality, although it was not republican, becoming a haven for monarchist forces.
A. Nin
Headed the leftist party, Workers’ Party of Marxist Unification (POUM). It was a group with anti-Stalinist tendencies close to Trotskyism. Founded in 1935, it was revolutionary in Catalonia, and until 1936, its influence was negligible.
Aranda
Staff Colonel, Chief of the Sixth Section of the Central Staff, and on commission in the Military Command of Oviedo, where he revolted on July 19. Until October 17, he withstood the siege, which was broken by Mola’s troops. After the fall of the northern front, he was chief of the Army Corps of Galicia. He intervened in Teruel, Montalban, Utrilla, Morella, reaching Vinaroz with the division, splitting the Republic in two. He pushed the miners in Oviedo, Asturias, the only area not controlled by the Republic.
Aguirre
He was a Spanish politician, a militant of the Basque Nationalist Party, the first Lehendakari (President) of the Basque Government, and Minister of Defense of that first executive, a task he took over during the Spanish Civil War. During his tenure, the “Government of Euzkadi” fought on the side of the Second Spanish Republic and formed the Basque Army.
Battle of the Ebro
The largest battle fought in the Spanish Civil War. It took place in the lower channel of the Ebro Valley from July to November 1938. Germany left command squads, some German nationals, aircraft, and artillery, which were of great help to the Francoist side. On the Republican side, the forces involved in the operation were integrated into the newly formed independent group of the Ebro Militia under Colonel Juan Modesto.
Constitution of 1931
Proclaimed on December 9, it contains both bourgeois and proletarian aspects: the system is defined as a “republic of workers of all kinds.” It was a mixture of radicalism and liberalism, taking the Weimar Republic as a model.
Cardinal Segura
Pedro Segura Saez was a Spanish cleric, a member of the church hierarchy. He was Cardinal Primate of Spain until his ouster in 1937 and, until his death in 1931, was Archbishop of Seville.
Cabanellas
The most senior general at the time, he presided over the National Defense Board established on July 24, 1936. Although, in reality, Franco commanded it.