Spanish Civil War (1936-1939): Causes, Conflict, and Aftermath
Military Uprising and Civil War (1936-1939)
To stand for election in February 1936, the leftist parties were grouped in the Popular Front. Right-wing parties formed various coalitions, consisting of the CEDA, monarchists, and traditionalists but failed to form a single candidate for Spain or write an agreed-upon manifesto. In the elections, the Popular Front became the winning force. The new government was formed exclusively by Republicans, while the Socialists and other coalition parties agreed to lend support in Parliament. Azaña was President and Casares Quiroga, leader of the government. The creation of a climate of violence favored sectors determined to organize a military coup against the Republic. The night of the February elections, General Franco attempted to declare a state of war. In March, a group of generals agreed to an uprising. The military conspiracy had the support of the political forces on the right. Contacts were made with the Italian Fascists and Nazi Germany. On June 14, in Madrid, Calvo Sotelo was murdered by a leftist group in response to the murder of Lieutenant Castillo. His death hastened the coup plans, and the uprising started in Morocco on July 17, giving rise to a Civil War that lasted for three years. At the end of 1937, Republican commanders were still confident they could win the war. They tried a series of army reforms and placed Vicente Rojo at the front. The Republican territory was divided into two zones, one of which was Catalonia, isolated from the rest. Franco continued the offensive against the South, maintaining heavy fighting in Castellón and Valencia, and extending gradually towards Lleida and Tarragona.
In February 1939, the Republic had no more territory than the central area, Madrid, La Mancha, and the Mediterranean region from the north of Valencia to Almería. In early March, in Madrid, there was an uprising against the Republican government led by Colonel Casado. Casado had come into contact with Franco’s intelligence service to deliver the city and end the war through negotiation. Casado controlled Madrid after strong communist units fought. With support from some socialists and part of the UGT, a Defense Board was created to negotiate an honorable peace. Franco only accepted an unconditional surrender. On March 28, Franco’s troops entered Madrid with no resistance. In the following days, they addressed the entire Mediterranean area. On April 1, Burgos signed the last part of the war. The existence of the Non-Intervention Committee did not prevent both sides from receiving external aid. Largo Caballero decided to send the Soviet Union’s gold reserves from the Bank of Spain to pay for arms. On the Republican side, the International Brigades provided great help in troops to the Republic. The rebels were most favored by foreign aid. German and Italian aid in arms was the most important, both numerically and tactically. Germany sent the Condor Legion.
Italian support consisted of sending a large unit, the Corpo Truppe Volontarie, although armament support was also important. The war originated in the Republican zone, creating a complex situation. Part of the Left saw the opportunity to fulfill their desire for social revolution. Furthermore, it was necessary to concentrate all efforts on winning the war because a defeat meant the end of all hope for social change. In the territory that remained loyal to the Republic, most people initially took up arms against the rebels. Once the rebellion was crushed, they felt entitled to promote social change. In the early months of the war, a popular response was unleashed against all that could be related to the so-called rebels (insurgents). Largo Caballero resigned, and the President of the Republic, Azaña, requested the formation of a new socialist government under Juan Negrín. The new cabinet focused its policy on the priority of the military effort. They strengthened central power, unified the direction of the war, incorporated all militias into the People’s Army, and established control over industrial and agricultural production. The accidental death of General Sanjurjo and the fact that the insurrection would succeed and give rise to a war raised the issue of leadership in the military and government. In Burgos, the Board of National Defense was created. Its mission was to rule the occupied territory. To conduct the war, Franco gained more support. His leadership within the army was imposed after the liberation of Toledo and Alcaraz and after ensuring that Hitler and Mussolini would recognize him. The military chief chose to rise. On October 1, 1936, the decree was published that named him head of state and government and Generalissimo of the armies. Franco announced the unification decree that created a single party, Falange Española Tradicionalista y de las JONS, unifying Falangists and Carlists. Franco became the national leader of this party, concentrating power in his hands. The institutionalization of the new state combined with Franco forming the first government of Franco. Concentrated as head of state and president of the government, he was then called Caudillo de España. The Spanish Civil War had a major international impact. It was seen as a confrontation between democratic forces and the rising fascist regimes. It was believed that Spain was a microcosm in which a feared armed confrontation was brewing on a global scale. The reforms were essential but violated the privileges of the dominant secular groups. The result of the Civil War was the consolidation of the regime introduced by Franco’s dictatorship, which lasted until Franco’s death in 1975. In his nearly forty years, Franco’s harsh dictatorship was marked by fierce repression of opponents, but its institutions evolved and adapted to various situations.