Spanish Civil War: 1936-1939, A Comprehensive Timeline
1936 Military Uprising: Development of the Spanish Civil War
On July 17, 1936, in Melilla, Tetuan, and Ceuta, and on the 18th on the peninsula, a significant sector of the army, traditionalists (Carlists), and Falangists staged a coup. They seized government agencies (civilian governments, municipalities, etc.) in some cities and constituted a board of senior military officers with the intent to “restore order” and end the Popular Front government, which had been democratically elected.
The military uprising failed in the large cities of Spain’s most developed and industrialized North and East. However, it succeeded in Castilla-León, Galicia, and Andalusia in the Guadalquivir, i.e., in agricultural areas, the most backward and conservative parts of Spain.
In Madrid and Barcelona, for two days, there was a struggle between rebel insurgents and troops loyal to the Republic, assisted by political militias. In Valencia, the situation lasted longer, but eventually, it was Republican.
The coup failed, but the government did not have sufficient means to suppress it. Thus began a military conflict that lasted nearly three years: the Spanish Civil War.
International opinion believed that what was at stake in Spain, as well as across Europe, was a fight to the death between Fascism and Democracy.
Phases of the Spanish Civil War
- Home: Progress towards Madrid, “War Columns” (July-November 1936)
- Battles around Madrid and occupation of the North (December 1936-October 1937)
- Offensive to the Mediterranean (November 1937-June 1938)
- Battle of the Ebro and End of War (July 1938-April 1939)
Phase 1: “Columns of Troops” (July-November 1936)
The “Columns of troops” system was used in colonial wars. The Republican troops were composed of militia (men and women volunteers from parties and unions).
First, African troops, commanded by General Yagüe, the rebels managed to link with the North, eliminate the resistance of Badajoz, and Franco took Toledo in September, ending the siege of the Alcazar. In late October, Franco was already at the gates of Madrid. Thousands of men and women fortified the entrances to the cry of “No Pasarán” (“They Shall Not Pass”).
On November 6, the Republican government moved to Valencia, and Madrid was left with a board chaired by General Miaja and defense in the hands of Commander Rojo. Madrid resisted with the help of the International Brigades and an anarchist column from Barcelona, the “Liberty Column,” led by Durruti, who lost his life.
Phase 2: Battles Around Madrid and Occupation of the North (December 1936-October 1937)
The Republic created a new Popular Army, and the militia was militarized. Franco also joined volunteers (Requetés and Falangists).
The rebels (who called themselves Nationalists) began enveloping maneuvers to isolate and take Madrid. First on the road from La Coruña (Guadarrama, Nov. 1936-Feb. 1937), then by that of Valencia (Jarama, Feb. 1937), and then at Barcelona (Guadalajara, March 1937), which was a great victory for the Popular Army, although Franco had joined the Italian CTV (Corps of Volunteer Troops under orders from Mussolini). Franco decided to change the strategy and headed north to take the industrial area. He began the occupation from east to west under the command of General Mola. On April 26, Guernica was bombed by the German Condor Legion, commanded by Hitler, an ally of Franco. This episode inspired Picasso to paint a denunciation of war in the Spanish pavilion of the Exposition Universelle in Paris in 1937; it was commissioned by the democratic government of the Republic.
Bilbao was taken in June, along with all the industrial and mining areas of the Republic, “the iron belt.”
Republicans, to take pressure off the north, attempted two offensives: Belchite in Madrid and Brunete in Zaragoza, but they could not prevent the fall of Santander (August) and Asturias (October).
Phase 3: Offensive to the Mediterranean (November 1937-June 1938)
In December 1937, the Republican army was restructured around Vicente Rojo, the defender of Madrid. He tried to take the lead with several offensives. The most important took place in the direction of Teruel, where a battle occurred in the winter of 1937 to 1938. They remained there until February because the campaign sparked Franco’s advance through Aragon, crossing the Maestrazgo, reaching Vinarós on the Mediterranean (Castellón) in April 1938. This divided the Republican territory into two regions: Catalonia and the Southeast. Franco could have ended the war by attacking Catalonia, but he did not want to get close to the French border at a difficult time internationally. His advance was halted until the Republican Army, with more weapons, unleashed a powerful attack on the Ebro River (province of Tarragona).
Phase 4: Battle of the Ebro and End of the War (July 1938-April 1939)
The Republican army crossed the river and tried to push back the enemy. But after fierce combat, they had to retreat across the Ebro River in November 1938. Since that time, Franco’s progress toward Catalonia was unstoppable. On January 26, 1939, he entered Barcelona without a fight. This meant the flight into exile of the Republican government (which had been there since October 1937) and the Basque Government, which had taken refuge there.
In February 1939, the Republic had no more territory than the central area and the entire Mediterranean region from Valencia to Almeria. Juan Negrín, Chairman of the Republican Government, came back and wanted to continue the war, supported by the Communists. But in late February 1939, France and Britain, democratic countries, recognized the Franco government, although it was fascist. Manuel Azaña, President of the Republic, disillusioned, resigned (in Paris).
In early March, there was an uprising in Madrid led by Casado, the head of the defense of the capital, against his own Republican government. He believed he could end the war with a negotiation with Franco, an “honorable peace based on the generosity of the Caudillo.”
Franco did not accept any conditions for surrender. On March 28, he entered Madrid without resistance and took the entire Mediterranean area in the following days. On April 1, 1939, Franco signed the last war dispatch in Burgos.