Spanish Civil War: Origins and Global Impact
The Outbreak of the Spanish Civil War
The military uprising began in North Africa on July 17, 1936, led by General Franco. The next day, it extended to the Iberian Peninsula with support from various fascist and right-wing political groups. The insurrection was justified by the perceived need to end a government considered illegitimate and to prevent the collapse of national unity.
The electoral failure of the right in the 1936 elections accelerated the organization of the coup. General Mola, directing from Pamplona, envisioned a swift military victory, with troops on the streets and the proclamation of a state of war. The immediate objective was the occupation of power centers.
The Government of the Republic had some knowledge of the coup plans but relied on being able to control it without difficulty. These forecasts were erroneous because the coup plotters fielded a greater number of troops than the Republican Government had expected. However, popular resistance from some police and army units prevented the rebels’ imminent victory. Thus, what Mola envisioned as a swift, violent takeover in a few weeks became a long civil war.
The insurrection triumphed in most of agricultural interior Spain (Galicia, Aragon) and the most conservative parts of Andalusia. It also triumphed in large cities like Seville, Oviedo, and Zaragoza. However, it failed in Catalonia, Madrid, Asturias, the Basque Country, and Valencia.
The Insurrection’s Failure in Catalonia
General Goded was responsible for directing the military movement in Catalonia. The rebels had little civilian support and very limited penetration. Even the Regionalist League, though not supporters of the Republic, did not officially endorse the conspiracy, although some of its leaders did so individually.
The military leaders hoped that most of the army and the Guardia Civil would remain neutral, but this was not the case. The autonomous government led police forces against the rebels, while the mobilization of leftist parties and unions also contributed to Goded’s surrender. He abandoned the fight, as did other Catalan cities. This victory was seen as a great popular success and a significant moral encouragement for the Spanish resistance.
Internationalization of the Conflict
The Spanish Civil War resonated globally. Progressive public opinion, from the U.S. to France, favored the Republic. Its defense was identified with the struggle for democracy, freedom, and progress. A large body of anti-fascist international volunteers, known as the International Brigades, played an important role in the defense of Madrid, Guadalajara, and Brunete.
Conversely, Conservatives and the Right who supported Franco viewed him as a bulwark against the expansion of communism. Other governments, such as Britain and France, fearing Hitler, opted for neutrality by creating the Non-Intervention Committee in London. While the committee aimed to prevent foreign intervention, it disproportionately harmed the Republican Government. It failed to stop fascist powers like Italy and Germany from aiding Franco, yet it effectively isolated the Republic, even retaining purchased weapons at the French border. Only the USSR provided significant material aid to the Republic.
Franco, however, received constant assistance from Fascist Italy (the Corpo Truppe Volontarie) and Nazi Germany (the Condor Legion), as well as Portugal. Planes, tanks, and troops arrived at the front without hindrance to aid Franco, particularly in bombings.