The Spanish Civil War (1936-1939)

1: The Spanish Civil War (1936-1939)

The Spanish Civil War was one of the most dramatic events of the twentieth century in Spain. It resulted from a social, political, and religious crisis that had been plaguing the country since the end of the nineteenth century. The conflict lasted three years, from 1936 to 1939, and was fought between supporters of the Spanish Republic and right-wing military rebels under the command of General Francisco Franco. It’s important to note that the military were essential instigators, and the intervention of Germany, Italy, and Russia transformed it into a total war.

Background

Republicans, the victors of the municipal elections of April 12th, proclaimed the Republic on October 14th, 1931. In April 1933, José Antonio Primo de Rivera founded the Falange. This organization advocated for the establishment of a nationalist state. In the February 1936 legislative elections, a leftist coalition called the “Popular Front,” consisting of Republicans, Socialists, members of the POUM, and Communists, won against the National Front and the center. On July 19th, 1936, in response to popular outcry against the rebels, Casares Quiroga was replaced as head of government by José Giral, who decided to arm the union and Popular Front militias. Members of the Sanjurjo Front Party, who were in exile in Portugal, Franco in the Canary Islands, and Mola in Pamplona, allied to remove the Republicans from power, thus triggering the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War.

1. The Beginning of the War: A Military Coup Turns into Civil War

Conservative opposition to the political democratization and social reforms of the Second Republic led to a coup initiated by Colonel Yagüe on July 17th, 1936, in Morocco. It spread to the peninsula on July 18th. The uprising failed in large cities but triumphed in rural areas and some inland capitals. The coup, though unsuccessful in achieving complete victory, inevitably led to civil war. From Morocco, on the 18th, General Franco, having secured the uprising in the Canary Islands, headed towards the peninsula at the head of the Army of Africa. The success or failure of the uprising depended primarily on the social and political conditions of each region. The uprising failed where workers and leftist forces had greater influence: the Basque Country, Catalonia, Madrid, Asturias, Santander, Levante, parts of Extremadura, Castile, and Andalusia. The rebels had expected the military coup would allow them to seize control of the government and quell any opposition. But after a week, the evidence that the coup had not succeeded led to the division of the country into two camps that were to fight a bloody civil war.

– The Sides

The rebels defined themselves as national defenders of the unity of Spain and Catholics. They were inspired and supported by fascism and comprised military conservatives who wanted a dictatorship, right-wing monarchists who sought the return of the Alfonsine monarchy, the Falange (inspired by Italian fascism), and traditionalists who desired a Carlist monarchy. Those loyal to the Republic consisted of the working classes: urban and rural workers, the petty bourgeoisie, and landless peasants. They were influenced by or affiliated with socialist, communist, and anarcho-syndicalist organizations and were labeled by the right as “reds.” Alongside them were the middle class, the enlightened bourgeoisie, intellectuals, and artists. They defended the legitimacy of the Republic and supported the reforms of the biennium and the leftist Popular Front.

– International Dimension and Support

The conflict was seen as a confrontation between democratic forces and fascist regimes. The Civil War was an armed confrontation between the old dominant groups of the Restoration and emerging groups of workers and the bourgeoisie. The reforms were necessary but violated the interests of the dominant groups, so these groups decided to abandon the legal path and opted for a coup. The war in Spain captivated the world. Supporting the Republic were liberal democratic opinion, workers’ parties, and the USSR. Supporting the Franco uprising, seeing it as a way to halt the spread of communism, were the fascist governments of Italy and Germany, the Papacy, the Catholic Church, and traditionalist Portugal. Both the rebels and the legitimate government of the Republic appealed to foreign powers for support, requesting military and political aid. This led to the creation of a Non-Intervention Committee.

– Foreign Aid

The rebels benefited most from foreign aid. German and Italian aid in arms was the most significant, both numerically and tactically. Germany sent its air force, the Condor Legion, and provided assistance with the delivery of strategic minerals and other products. The Italians sent the Corpo Truppe Volontarie. In addition, there were volunteers from Portugal, Ireland, and other nationalities aligned with fascism or conservative Catholic ideology. In the territory that remained loyal to the Republic, the military uprising led to the spread of a revolutionary climate. The Church, the bourgeoisie, landowners, and the wealthy classes were subjected to persecution, which weakened Republican control. Killings, looting, and the burning of churches occurred, and political forces demanded a strong state capable of concentrating its efforts on winning the war.