The Spanish Civil War: Dynamics of the Republican and Nationalist Zones
The Two Zones of Conflict
The Republican Zone
The Social Revolution
- Resulted in the formation of committees and bodies of popular power.
- Factories were occupied and collectivized, and lands of the landowners were confiscated.
- This process was driven by Anarcho-syndicalism (CNT and FAI).
- Unleashed strong anti-clericalism: priests were persecuted as enemies, sometimes resulting in death or imprisonment.
Political Control and Internal Division
In 1936, a new coalition government was formed in the Republic (Republicans, Socialists, Communists, and Anarchists), led by Largo Caballero, who attempted to control the revolution. Republican authorities struggled to contain the revolutionary process, and militias were merged into a People’s Army.
The Confrontation of 1937 led to division within the Republican forces. Communists and Socialists clashed violently with Anarchists and Trotskyists in Barcelona.
Juan Negrín formed a new government without anarchist presence and proclaimed a policy of extreme resistance (the Thirteen Points of Negrín).
The Nationalist (Rebel) Zone
The New State Structure
The first governing body was the Board of Defense, which appointed Generalissimo Franco as Head of Government.
In April 1937, Franco decreed the unification of all political forces into a single party: the Spanish Traditionalist Phalanx of the Juntas of the National Syndicalist Offensive (FET y de las JONS).
A year later, the first Franco government was created in Burgos.
Ideology and Repression
The new state was inspired by Fascism (blind obedience to the head, contempt for liberalism and democracy, exaltation of violence) and defended conservatism and Catholicism.
The aim was to end Republican reforms: abolishing labor legislation, social reform, religious freedom, and autonomy statutes. All political parties were abolished.
In areas dominated by Franco, there was systematic persecution of the Popular Front and its representatives. The repression (arrests, incarcerations, purges, and shootings) affected everyone associated with the Republic.
The Evolution of the War
Development of the Conflict
Advance Towards Madrid (1936)
The rebels’ strategy was to advance towards Madrid and capture the capital. They occupied Extremadura and Toledo. The Republican government left Madrid and settled in Valencia. Republican forces were able to halt Franco’s offensive.
The Battle of the North (1937)
In 1937, Franco decided to change the front. Franco’s forces attacked the cities of the north. On April 26, the bombing of Guernica took place, carried out by the German Condor Legion. Franco’s troops subsequently occupied Bilbao. The Republicans could not prevent the fall of Santander and Asturias.
The Battle of the Ebro (1938)
Rebel troops advanced towards the Mediterranean and reached Aragon (Battle of the Ebro). In November 1938, Republicans had to retreat to the other bank of the Ebro. Barcelona was taken on January 26, 1939, and shortly after, Franco’s army reached the French border.
The End of the War and Exile
In 1939, only Madrid remained in Republican hands. Negrín attempted to resist, but a coup d’état in Madrid established a junta (or council). Franco’s forces occupied the remaining territory.
With the Republican defeat, exile began, coupled with Francoist repression. Men, women, and children crossed the French border.
Thousands of Spanish Republicans, exiled to France, took part in the resistance against the Nazis soon after the outbreak of World War II. Approximately 16,000 Spanish Republicans died in concentration camps.
Another group managed to embark for Latin America or the USSR.