The Spanish Civil War: A Summary of Key Events and Consequences
The Spanish Civil War (1936-1939)
6) Political and Military Conspiracy Against the Republic
The revolt of the African army moved to the peninsula on July 18, 1936. The coup was supported by the Church, the Carlist army, monarchists, conservatives, and Falangists. The coup divided Spain into two areas:
- The Nationalist Area: Rebels established control in towns under the Board of National Defense. Months later, the ex-head of government was appointed, and all political forces supporting the uprising united into a single party.
- The Republican Area: Controlled much of northern Spain (Aragón, except Navarre, Catalonia), the Levant region, Madrid, and almost all of Andalusia. After the coup, the government’s authority almost disappeared. Unions and popular organizations took the opportunity to achieve social revolution, organizing militias to defend the republic. Months later, the People’s Army was created, but disobedience to the government by some groups weakened the Republican side.
Internationalization of the Conflict
The Civil War aroused popular passions in Europe. Public opinion was divided between supporters of the legitimate government of the Republic and those supporting the coup. Britain and France convened a conference and signed a non-intervention agreement to prevent the conflict from spreading to other countries. However, both sides received foreign aid:
- The Republic obtained help from the USSR.
- The rebels received arms and soldiers from Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany in return for mining concessions.
The Republican side was supported by many intellectuals. Thousands of foreign volunteers enlisted in the International Brigades, which played a prominent role.
Most Significant Phases
The Campaign Around Madrid
In August, Moroccan troops crossed the Strait of Gibraltar and reached Cadiz. From Andalusia and Extremadura, they went to Toledo and stayed at the gates of Madrid in late October. The takeover of the capital became the target of the rebels. The attack on Madrid began in the fall of 1936 and extended through the winter. The government of the Republic left the capital and entrusted its defense to a military junta. The arrival of the first International Brigades and Soviet planes and tanks blocked the takeover of the capital. Franco’s troops were defeated at the battles of Jarama and Guadalajara. With the failure of the attack on Madrid, the Nationalists concentrated their efforts on other fronts.
The Northern Front
Franco’s troops advanced on the northern front. On April 26, 1937, the bombing of Guernica by German aircraft took place, enabling the fall of the Basque Country to the Nationalists. In August, Santander and Asturias fell. Republicans counterattacked in Brunete and Belchite, trying to force Franco’s troops to withdraw from the north but failed. The fall of the north was a setback for the Republicans, as it gave the rebels control of the industrial and mining resources of this area.
The End of the War
The Republican territory remained fragmented. To save the situation, Republican troops crossed the Ebro River. Franco’s army attacked from the rear, resulting in the bloody Battle of the Ebro, in which the Republican army was virtually destroyed. The defeat of the Republic took place between autumn 1938 and spring of the following year. Nationalists took Barcelona in January 1939, and in March, Franco’s troops entered Madrid, ending the war. The Civil War caused the loss of nearly half a million lives, the exile of many Spaniards, and the devastation of the country.
The Rear on Both Sides
The war was a time of famine, death, and fear. Food supply for the population presented a serious problem. Food rationing was common practice, with authorities establishing the amounts of certain foods a person could receive per day. Civilians suffered the fear of fighting or the bombardment of besieged cities. Families feared the recruitment of young children and family members. The separation from everyday life was startling, as reprisals took place on both sides against supporters of the other zone. The most common form of retaliation was called paseos: an armed group would take a person from their residence under the pretext of taking a walk, lead them away from the town, and murder them.
- Many union leaders, left-wing party members, military personnel, and intellectuals loyal to the Republic were jailed or killed in the Nationalist zone throughout the conflict.
- In the Republican zone, landlords, employers, and members of the clergy were especially persecuted.
- Many people were reported as belonging to or sympathizing with the enemy and executed. The shot was usually buried in mass graves at night and without any identification.
Consequences of War
Fear of the advancing Francoist troops caused many people to flee their homes and become refugees. To prevent the suffering of war, some 30,000 children left Spain for destinations in other countries like Mexico, France, or the USSR. These were known as the “Children of War.” At the end of the conflict, hundreds of thousands of people went into exile, many of whom returned when World War II broke out.