Spain 1914-1918: Neutrality in WWI & 1917 Crisis
Spain During the First World War and the Crisis of 1917
The Tragic Week of Barcelona (1909)
Often acting in alliance with an increasingly influential Catalan group. The origin of the events is in the Moroccan War, which made it necessary to send reinforcements from the mainland. Maura decided to mobilize Catalan reservists. During the embarkation of the troops, fighting and protests began. In July, a general strike was declared, leading to an intense revolt extending from the industrial areas. The repression was hard, and there were over a hundred deaths and nearly a thousand arrests. Anarchists and the radical Republicans of Lerroux were blamed for the events. The execution of the anarchist Ferrer, director of the Modern School, was highly controversial. Liberal critics forced the conservative President Maura to resign.
Spain During the First World War (1914-1918)
At the time of the Great War (1914-1918), Spain did not have sufficient economic or military capacity to stand as a potential ally in any conflict. It always remained neutral. Despite this, the war was a source of confrontation between left and right. Germany and its allies represented order and authority to the right. Conservatives were pro-German. The left was on the side of France and Great Britain, representing the cause of freedom and reason – Anglophile liberals or pro-Allies.
Economically, the consequences of the war were positive. Foreign trade grew strongly, and the trade balance became positive. Large quantities of iron and coal were exported from Biscay and Asturias. The shipbuilding industry reaped tremendous benefits. The bank experienced a period of expansion. The fact that Spanish goods were sold abroad, as well as their price, did not increase domestically. Staples, such as wheat, rose by more than 20%. The rapid economic progress was short-lived and ended when the war did. From 1919, a crisis of overproduction began as European countries recovered much of their industrial and agricultural activity.
The Crisis of 1917
In 1917, a grave crisis threatened the restoration system. It comprised three aspects: military, political, and social. Despite the range of motion, little or no change occurred compared to the previous situation. The sectors involved in the crisis had different and conflicting objectives.
Military Crisis
The Spanish army had some problems:
- Its structure: There were too many officers.
- Most of the military budget was spent on salaries, which were insufficient.
- Little modernization: Consequently, spending on arms and equipment was minimal.
- Rivalries: Two sides were facing each other and blamed each other for the excess of officers.
Africanists wanted promotions to be granted only by merit of war, while the Spaniards who remained on the Peninsula were promoted solely by seniority. In 1916, the so-called Defense Juntas were born, comprising military personnel serving in the Peninsula who protested against war merit promotions and demanded higher salaries. They also called for political regeneration, without specifying whether it called for a democratization of the system or stronger authority. The first board was created in Barcelona but soon spread to other Spanish cities.
Political Crisis
Due to pressure from the government, Dato closed the courts. Soon, an assembly of parliamentarians and senators met in Barcelona. Their goal was to appoint a provisional government to convene a Constituent Cortes to develop a truly democratic new constitution that recognized the autonomy of the regions. The military juntas disagreed.
Social Crisis
Since World War I, companies had accumulated benefits.