Second Spanish Republic: Largo Caballero & Negrín Governments, Social Revolution
Largo Caballero’s Government (September 1936)
On September 5, 1936, Francisco Largo Caballero, secretary general of the UGT, formed a new government composed of Republicans, Socialists, and, for the first time, Communists. Facing the impending attack on Madrid, the government relocated to Valencia. Caballero aimed to create a “great anti-fascist alliance” against the rebels. However, military failures intensified internal conflicts regarding the management of the revolutionary process and the war. One faction (Republicans, Communists, and some Socialists) prioritized order, controlling collectivization, and strengthening ties with the middle classes. Another faction (Anarchists and POUM Communists) insisted on deepening revolutionary changes to mobilize popular support against fascism. These tensions weakened Caballero’s government, culminating in the Barcelona May Events of 1937. Open fighting erupted, the government sent forces to Catalonia to restore order, resulting in over 200 casualties, the defeat of the Anarchists and POUM, and a severe government crisis.
Negrín’s Government (May 1937 – March 1939)
The May Events strengthened the position of the Communists, who already had significant influence due to Soviet aid. They demanded the dissolution of the POUM and the arrest of its leaders. Caballero refused, but his own Socialist party favored an agreement with the Communists. Caballero resigned, and Manuel Azaña appointed Juan Negrín to form a new Socialist government. The POUM was outlawed, its members arrested, and Indalecio Prieto took the Ministry of War. The new cabinet prioritized the military effort, strengthening central power and integrating militias into the Popular Army. The government moved from Valencia to Barcelona to control key economic and military resources. Facing Franco’s relentless advance, Negrín attempted a negotiated solution, proposing his Thirteen Points program. The pro-Franco side refused any negotiation. By March 1938, life in the Republican territory was dire, with food shortages, continuous military defeats, and widespread war-weariness. The Munich Pact in September 1938 was a further blow. Negrín insisted on military resistance, but the loss of Catalonia led to the exile of the Catalan and Basque governments. Britain and France recognized Franco’s government, and Azaña resigned as president. The Republic’s end was near.
Collapse of the Republican State
In response to the uprising, the Republican government under José Giral organized military resistance. Arms were distributed to militias and political parties, the traditional army and police were dissolved, and volunteer battalions were formed. During the summer and autumn of 1936, state power crumbled, replaced by revolutionary bodies imposing a new order. Councils, committees, and boards emerged, sometimes merging into regional councils dominated by Popular Front forces, unions, and workers’ parties. The Central Committee of Antifascist Militias was particularly powerful in Catalonia.
Outbreak of the Social Revolution
The military uprising triggered a revolutionary climate in Republican territory. After crushing the rebellion, social changes were pursued. The most significant was the social revolution, involving the collectivization of industrial and agricultural property. Workers took control of businesses, sometimes through self-management, with legal backing for land seizures and industrial takeovers. In rural areas, farm expropriations and occupations were widespread. The Church, bourgeoisie, landowners, and upper classes faced persecution, fleeing Republican control. Murders, illegal detentions, looting, church burnings, and property seizures occurred.
Radical Experiences
The experiences of self-management, the autonomy of militia columns on the war fronts, and the imposition of a revolutionary “terror” in the streets were primarily driven by the most radical elements of anarcho-syndicalism (CNT-FAI) and the POUM.