Primo de Rivera & Spanish Civil War: A Deep Dive
Primo de Rivera’s Dictatorship (1923-1930)
In 1923, General Miguel Primo de Rivera led a military coup against the Spanish government. He claimed that only a dictatorship could end the problems that had emerged during the reign of Alfonso XIII. Alfonso XIII accepted the dictatorship, and Primo de Rivera was named president of the government.
The dictatorship was supported by:
- Business owners, the Church, and the army (to obtain order).
- Socialist trade unions (to introduce social and labor reforms).
The Patriotic Union was the official party of the dictatorship. Its aims were to:
- Re-establish order.
- Promote nationalism.
- Eradicate terrorism (from anarchism).
- Suppress demonstrations (from the PCE – Communist Party of Spain).
The dictatorship won a definitive victory in the war in Morocco (1925). The economy was based on public works, including:
- Hydroelectric stations
- Roads
- Ports
- Railways
- State monopolies (Compañía Telefónica and Campsa)
In 1929, the Great Depression began, and Spain suffered significant problems, including unemployment and social conflicts. Alfonso XIII, who had initially supported the dictatorship, withdrew his support.
The Spanish Civil War (1936-1939)
A military uprising began in July 1936, led by Generals Mola, Sanjurjo, and Franco. The rebellion’s objectives were to:
- End social unrest.
- Stop and reverse the reforms introduced by left-wing governments.
- Prevent a communist revolution in Spain.
- Establish an authoritarian regime.
Spain was divided into two opposing sides, and civil war broke out:
- Nationalists: Defended the military uprising and had the support of Germany, Italy, and Portugal.
- Republicans: Defended the Republican government and had the support of the USSR and the International Brigades.
The Nationalist army took Madrid in March 1939. The war ended with a Nationalist victory. Franco established an authoritarian dictatorship inspired by the regimes of Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy.