Catalan Autonomy & the Spanish Civil War: A Historical Overview
The Spanish Civil War: Situation of the Fronts (March 1939)
End of the Civil War
By March 1939, the end of the Spanish Civil War was imminent. Following the Battle of the Ebro, Nationalist forces had captured Catalonia, reducing the Republican zone to the east, from Valencia to Almería and Madrid. The Nationalists were attacking from all sides. Azaña had resigned as president, and a coup against Segismundo Casado had taken place. The war finally ended on April 1, 1939, with Franco’s victory.
The Mancomunitat of Catalonia (1914-1925)
A New Era for Catalonia
In 1914, amidst the Crisis of the Restoration and the reign of Alfonso XIII, the Mancomunitat of Catalonia was established. Prat de la Riba, president of the Mancomunitat, addressed its assembly, describing a new stage for Catalonia, one of self-governance after a period of Spanish rule following the War of Succession and the Decree of Nova Planta. However, the Spanish state granted limited powers to the Mancomunitat.
The First Autonomous Body
The Mancomunitat was the first recognized regional authority in Catalonia since 1714. It represented a significant step towards self-government, later influencing the creation of the Catalan Government in 1931. The Mancomunitat managed joint services for the four Catalan provinces, focusing on charity, culture, and public works.
The Political and Social Crisis of 1917
Underlying Tensions
Spain’s neutrality during World War I (1914-1918) led to economic expansion, benefiting the bourgeoisie but creating hardship for the working class. Wages stagnated while prices rose due to increased exports, leading to widespread strikes.
Causes and Events
- Political unrest and demands for a new constitution.
- Labor unrest due to inflation and declining purchasing power.
- Military unrest and the emergence of the Boards of Defense.
The crisis began with protests against the government. An assembly of Catalan and Spanish parliamentarians demanded a provisional government and a new constitution to decentralize the state. This assembly failed due to lack of support from reformists, the dynastic parties, and the military’s Defense Councils. Discrepancies between Catalan nationalists and leftist groups, along with bourgeois fears of a radicalized labor movement, also contributed to the failure.
A general strike called by the CNT and UGT trade unions, inspired by the Russian Revolution, further escalated the crisis. Protests demanding an end to the monarchy spread throughout Spain. The government, led by Eduardo Dato, responded with repression, leading to his assassination. The military formed Boards of Defense, demanding economic and professional improvements. Their intervention ultimately ended the crisis.
The Núria Statute (August 1931)
Drafting Catalan Autonomy
During the Second Spanish Republic, under the provisional presidency of Francesc Macià, a committee drafted the Núria Statute, a draft statute of autonomy for Catalonia.
Key Provisions
- Defined Catalonia as an autonomous state within the Spanish Republic.
- Declared that power resided with the people of Catalonia, represented by the Catalan Government.
- Outlined the territory as comprising the provinces of Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona, with provisions for the inclusion of other territories.
- Established Catalan as the official language, with Spanish reserved for communication with the Madrid government and the justice administration in cases involving Spanish speakers.
The Núria Statute granted extensive autonomy to Catalonia, although this autonomy was later reduced in the final statute adopted in Madrid.