Key Figures and Events of the Spanish Civil War
Key Figures of the Spanish Civil War
Santiago Casares Quiroga (1884-1950)
Galician politician and lawyer. Signatory of the Pact of San Sebastian (1930) and Member of Parliament for the Organ (Autonomous Galician Republican Organization). He led the party and merged it with the Republican Left in 1936. Held several ministerial positions: Navy (1931), Governance (1931-1933), and Public Works (1936). Appointed Prime Minister by President Azaña (May 13, 1936), also holding the War portfolio. Faced the military uprising and the popular revolution of July 1936. Tried to maintain constitutional law and opposed distributing arms to the people. Resigned on July 18 and exiled to France.
Vicente Rojo Lluch (1894-1966)
Military officer specializing in infantry. Commander and professor of strategy at the Toledo military academy. Remained loyal to the Republic during the Civil War. Participated in the Battle of Illescas (October 1936). Appointed to General Miaja’s staff during the Siege of Madrid. Held the same position at the Central command. Participated in the Catalonia campaign as a General. Exiled to France, then America. Instructor at the Cochabamba military academy (1943). Returned to Spain in 1958.
Segismundo Casado López (1893-1968)
Spanish military officer. Chief bodyguard of the President of the Republic (1934-1936). Held senior positions in the Republican army during the Civil War. Appointed Chief of Staff in February 1939. Opposed Negrín’s government, becoming Minister of Defense of the National Defense Council (March 1939), leading to a military confrontation with communist units.
Juan Negrín López (1889-1956)
Politician and physician specializing in physiology. Studied in Leipzig (1922) and became a professor at the University of Madrid. Became involved in politics during the Civil War (1936-1939). Joined the PSOE in 1931 and was elected to office. Served as Finance Minister under Largo Caballero (September 1936). Reorganized the war economy and transferred a large part of the Bank of Spain’s gold reserves to the USSR (via Cartagena to Odessa). Became Prime Minister after Largo Caballero’s resignation (May 17, 1937). Formed a government including two Communist ministers to secure USSR support, but remained distant from the Spanish Communist Party.
Key Events and Concepts of the Spanish Civil War
Decree of Collectivizations
Decree issued by the Generalitat of Catalonia on October 24, 1936, legalizing the ongoing collectivization process. Companies were classified as collectivized (over 100 employees or abandoned by owners, and between 50 and 100 workers agreed) or private, supervised by worker committees.
Collectivization
Transfer of ownership of production assets (land, industries, mines, etc.) to the collective. Advocated by socialism to eliminate class differences. Collective ownership removes competition and directs production towards collective needs. Maintains market exchange, but production is not subject to supply and demand. Led to socialist state intervention in production planning. The term has been misused, retaining democratic connotations despite often authoritarian state intervention.
Fuero del Trabajo (Workers’ Statute)
Legal text regulating working conditions in Francoist Spain. Enacted on March 9, 1938, and amended on January 10, 1967. Declared the maintenance of private ownership of the means of production, subsidiary state intervention in the economy, hierarchical firm structure, state intervention in labor standards and wages, prohibition of class-based unions, creation of a vertical association structure, and prohibition of worker strikes. Repealed by the 1978 Constitution.
National Defense Board (Junta de Defensa Nacional)
Governing body in Nationalist-held territory, created in Madrid on July 23, 1936. Composed of military figures, headed by General Miguel Cabanellas, and including Generals Mola, Franco, and Queipo de Llano. Tasked with governing the occupied area and directing the war. Banned political parties and freedoms, suspended the Constitution, and halted agrarian reform. Appointed Franco as head of government on September 29, 1936. Transferred powers to the Technical Board of the State on October 1, 1936, which organized ministerial departments until January 30, 1938.
Siege of Madrid
Assault on Madrid by Franco’s forces and defense by Republicans (1936-1939). Three phases: attack from the south by General Varela’s column (November 7-23, 1936), assault from the west (November 29, 1936 – January 16, 1937), and assault from the east (February-March 1937). The latter led to the Battles of Jarama and Guadalajara.
Battle of Jarama
Military operation (February 6-7, 1937) during the fight for Madrid. Franco’s forces unsuccessfully attempted to overcome Madrid’s southern defenses. A brutal war of attrition with heavy casualties. Centered around Pingarrón Hill, east of the Jarama River. Franco’s gains did not seriously threaten Madrid’s communications with Valencia. The battle highlighted the Popular Army’s balance between organization and offensive spirit.