Spanish Second Republic: Rise of the Popular Front and Civil War
The Spanish Second Republic: Political Turmoil and the Road to War
CEDA’s Rise and the Escalation of Tensions (1933-1936)
Also, in this line of action, the transfer of powers to the Generalitat, as outlined in the Catalan autonomy statute, is slowed, as is the Basque autonomy statute. The CEDA-led government begins to demand an even greater shift to the right, and the Falange acts violently against leftist and progressive forces, which degenerates into a period of struggle (in all its forms) between leftists and rightists. The CEDA finally enters the government, accelerating the cancellation of leftist progressive reforms.
The left reacts by calling a general strike with uneven results. In Asturias, the workers rise, becoming a strong revolutionary movement. In Catalonia, the “Estat Català” is proclaimed. Both initiatives are stifled. In the case of Asturias, repression by the army against the rebels unleashes a killing spree. Many leftist politicians are imprisoned.
CEDA takes even more power after these events and begins making plans to overthrow the Republic. The Falange does much the same, inciting armed rebellion against the Republic. It should be noted that the situation in Europe during this period is dominated by the unstoppable rise of fascism in Italy and Germany, and these countries are the examples to follow for the European right at that time.
Returning to Spain, the government intends to reform no less than 42 articles of the constitution, representing a radical turning back. It also brings to a vote a law of agrarian counter-reform. Following a series of scandals erupt, dotting the Lerroux government. All this leads to the resignation of the government and the calling of elections for February 16, 1936, after a failed attempt to create a stable new government without the left. The left unites in a broad opposition alliance called the “Popular Front,” which, although circumstantial, is the only defense left for the Republic against fascism and the conservative royalists.
The Popular Front’s Victory and the Path to Civil War (1936)
The Popular Front wins the elections, obtaining 257 deputies. Azaña forms a government without the Socialists and Communists, who support him but do not want to enter the government.
The government immediately enacts an amnesty, and thousands of October revolutionaries regain their freedom. The Catalan parliament reconvenes. There follows the right’s poor acceptance of the Popular Front’s victory, and a wave of terrorist acts begins to destabilize the country. The Popular Front government responds by outlawing the Falange and imprisoning its main leaders.
In addition, saber-rattling begins to be deafening, and the most reactionary military officers begin to prepare a coup. In addition to the generals, this time there are civilians involved in the plot. On the other hand, farmers are beginning to occupy farms with the consent of the government to carry out agrarian reform on their own and as soon as possible. Landowners react by leaving the country and taking all their capital.
In big cities, the shows of support for the Republic are crowded, highlighting the May 1 demonstration in Madrid. The general situation is becoming radicalized, and violent acts by the Falange are answered by the burning of churches.
General Mola, the brain of the coup being prepared, sets the first date for July 10 and distributes the work: Franco is responsible for Africa, Goded for Valencia, Queipo del Llano for Andalusia, and Mola himself will take care of Navarre and Burgos. Finally, it is agreed to postpone the date due to disagreements with the Falange and the traditionalists.
Meanwhile, within the same plan of destabilization, on July 12, a triggering event occurs: the lieutenant of the Assault Guard, a leftist and publicly known figure, José Castillo, is murdered, allegedly by Falangists. His own comrades retaliate by killing the right-wing leader José Calvo Sotelo.
This serves as an excuse for the coup to be triggered, initially on July 17 in the Canary Islands and Morocco and on the 18th in the rest of Spain. The government reacts late and poorly, initially denying the people the weapons they claimed, in some cases losing a golden opportunity to stop the uprising.
From this moment, Spain is divided into two zones: one under government control and the other controlled by the rebels. There is no clear military advantage for either side, which foresees a long war. The tragedy of a civil war is served.