October Revolution of 1934: Causes, Consequences, and Aftermath
The October Revolution of 1934
The entry of three CEDA ministers into the government in October 1934 was interpreted by the Socialists as a surrender of the Republic to its enemies. This event triggered a revolution that had been long in preparation. The insurrectionary movement had the support of the Generalitat, the PCE, and the CNT, but it largely became a political general strike in the major cities. In some instances, the conflict lasted a week, with attempts at armed insurrection by the socialist militia.
Lluís Companys, then president of the Generalitat of Catalonia, proclaimed the Catalan State within the Spanish Federal Republic. However, the central government responded with armed force, suspending the autonomy of Catalonia and jailing Companys along with members of his government.
Social Revolution in Asturias
In Asturias, a more radical social revolution unfolded. Miners seized control of the region for two weeks, collectivizing the means of production and abolishing money. The army, led by Franco, had to reconquer the region, employing Moroccan colonial troops. The consequences of the October Revolution were significant:
- Reaction of the Anti-Liberal Right: Illiberal right-wing factions viewed these events as confirmation that the labor movement was plotting a revolution against the bourgeois republicans, whom they considered too weak to cope. The centrist Republicans’ refusal to enact the demanded repression reinforced the conviction that military intervention was the only solution. The Church condemned the uprising in Asturias as an anti-Catholic revolt, highlighting the violent deaths of over 30 religious figures, whom they considered martyrs.
- Repression: Labor organizations faced severe repression. Most of their leaders were jailed or fled, their local offices and newspapers were shut down, and 30,000 workers were arrested. Many employers exploited the situation by canceling signed work contracts, resulting in the dismissal of thousands of workers across the country. Left-leaning municipalities were replaced by others.
Center-Left Positions
The outrage generated by the repression and the calls for amnesty significantly influenced the positions of center-left political groups. Manuel Azaña became a political martyr due to what was perceived as unwarranted governmental persecution. He was charged with conspiracy and even imprisoned for a time. His popularity grew immensely, leading to the formation of a new inclusive party, Republican Left (1934). Dissident radicals from the Martínez Barrio faction also formed a new group, joining Republican Union (1934), and both groups moved closer together.
The Popular Front
In January 1936, left-wing parties, including Republican Left and Republican Union, along with the PSOE, the UGT, the PCE, the POUM, and, despite opposition from the FAI, signed the pact of the Popular Front. This name was inspired by a similar experiment in France and aligned with the guidelines set in 1935 by the Communist International, which advocated tactical alliances between the labor movement and the bourgeoisie to combat fascism. The Popular Front was an electoral platform with a minimal, hardly revolutionary program that advocated amnesty, the reinstatement of the 1931 constitution, the recovery of earlier legislation, and the acceleration of land reform and education.
In Catalonia, a similar coalition, the Front d’Esquerra, led by Esquerra Republicana, comprised nationalists, republicans, and workers. In the February 1936 elections, the Popular Front candidates won, receiving 40% of the votes in most major cities.