The Rise and Fall of the Second Spanish Republic
The Dictatorship of Primo de Rivera (1923-1930)
On September 13, 1923, General Miguel Primo de Rivera, Captain General of Catalonia, proclaimed a manifesto and seized power, claiming to interpret the will of the people. King Alfonso XIII endorsed this move, dissolving Parliament and appointing Primo de Rivera as Prime Minister. A military directory was established, initiating reforms in local government, railway management, and recruitment. Economic improvements included the creation of the National Economic Council, a rise in the standard of living, and the stabilization of the peseta. The pacification of Morocco, culminating in the landing at Alhucemas (1924-1925), further solidified Primo de Rivera’s position. In 1925, the military directory was replaced by a civilian-military body. Primo de Rivera focused on international relations and launched an ambitious public works program, emphasizing dams, irrigation, and roads.
The Fall of the Monarchy (1930-1931)
Facing growing opposition, Primo de Rivera resigned on January 30, 1930, and died in Paris on March 16, 1930. King Alfonso XIII appointed General Dámaso Berenguer as Prime Minister, but he struggled against rising republican and socialist agitation. Following Berenguer’s resignation, Admiral Juan Bautista Aznar formed a government in February 1931 and announced elections. The victory of leftist parties in urban areas signaled a shift in public opinion. Recognizing his dwindling support, Alfonso XIII left Spain for Rome, where he died in 1941.
The Second Spanish Republic (1931-1936)
The Second Spanish Republic was proclaimed on April 14, 1931, with Niceto Alcalá-Zamora leading a provisional government. The government declared a general amnesty, reformed electoral laws, abolished titles of nobility, and reduced the size of the army. Legislative elections confirmed the Republic’s mandate. Alcalá-Zamora was elected President in December 1931, with Manuel Azaña as Prime Minister. Key legislation included the Agrarian Reform Law of 1932 and the nationalization of church property in 1933. Political instability led to a series of short-lived governments. The 1933 elections saw victories for the Radical Republican Party led by Alejandro Lerroux and the right-wing CEDA (Spanish Confederation of Autonomous Rights) led by José María Gil Robles.
The Popular Front and the Road to Civil War
The 1936 elections brought the Popular Front, a coalition of leftist parties, to power. Santiago Casares Quiroga became Prime Minister. The Popular Front faced opposition from right-wing groups, including the Spanish Falange and the National Bloc led by José Calvo Sotelo. Political tensions escalated, culminating in the assassination of Calvo Sotelo on July 13, 1936. This event triggered the National Uprising led by General Francisco Franco on July 17, 1936, dividing Spain and marking the beginning of the Spanish Civil War.
The Spanish Civil War (1936-1939)
The National Uprising, led by General Franco, gained control of 29 provinces, while 21 provinces remained loyal to the Republic. The Nationalist forces consisted of much of the military, the Guardia Civil, and volunteer militias from the Carlists (Requetés), the Spanish Falange, and other right-wing groups. The Republican side included elements of the Civil Guard and Assault Guards, loyal army units, and militias from socialist, communist, anarchist, and other left-wing organizations. Major cities like Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, and Bilbao, along with industrial areas, remained under Republican control. The Nationalists held much of rural Spain, including parts of Andalusia, Old Castile, and Navarre.