Spanish Civil War: Causes, Key Events, and Aftermath
The Spanish Civil War (1936-1939)
Causes of the Conflict
The Spanish Civil War was a complex conflict with deep roots. The rise to power of the Popular Front, a left-wing coalition, in the 1936 elections heightened existing tensions. Underlying social and economic problems, including widespread hunger due to agricultural underproduction, further fueled discontent. Peripheral nationalisms, demanding greater autonomy, clashed with the central government and the army. Religious divisions, with anti-religious intellectuals on the Republican side and the Church supporting the other, added to the polarization. Political violence between the right and left became increasingly common and deadly.
The Coup and Early Stages of the War
On July 17, 1936, a coup d’état led by Generals Mola, Sanjurjo, and Franco was launched. While the government initially attempted to quell the uprising, it quickly spread. Franco, with support from Germany and Italy, transported the Army of Africa from Morocco to Spain. The rebels secured key southern strongholds and advanced rapidly, capturing Extremadura within weeks. Franco’s decision to relieve the siege of the Toledo Military Academy, while strategically questionable, boosted rebel morale.
The Battle for Madrid and the Northern Front
The rebels’ initial attempts to capture Madrid were unsuccessful, leading to a protracted siege. In 1937, Republican counteroffensives in Belchite and Teruel offered brief respite, but the rebels ultimately regained control. The northern Republican strongholds of Asturias, Cantabria, and the Basque Country fell to the Nationalist forces.
The War’s Turning Point and the Fall of Catalonia
The Battle of Teruel in 1938 marked a turning point in favor of the rebels. Their subsequent victory in Aragon and the capture of Catalonia in early 1939 left the Republicans with only Madrid and Valencia.
The End of the War and Franco’s Victory
With dwindling resources and manpower, the Republicans could not withstand the final Nationalist offensive. Provincial capitals fell one by one, followed by Valencia, Alicante, and Murcia. Franco’s victory established him as dictator of Spain.
International Intervention
Foreign intervention played a significant role in prolonging the war. The Republicans received support from the USSR, Mexico, and International Brigades. The Nationalists, however, benefited from far greater aid from Germany, Italy, and Portugal. A Non-Intervention Pact signed by several European powers, including Britain, France, and Germany, was largely ineffective, as German and Italian aid continued to flow to the Nationalist side.
Repression and Casualties
The war resulted in immense human suffering. Both sides engaged in political repression and violence against civilians. The Nationalist side, however, carried out systematic executions and massacres, notably in Malaga, Seville, and Badajoz. The poet Federico García Lorca and numerous Republican leaders were among the victims. The post-war repression continued under Franco’s regime.
Refugees and Exile
As the Nationalist forces advanced, thousands of civilians fled their homes, seeking refuge in Republican-held territories or abroad. The exodus from Catalonia in early 1939 saw half a million refugees cross into France. Many remained in exile, while others joined the Allied forces in World War II.
Extremadura: A Divided Region
Extremadura became a key battleground in the war. While most of Cáceres fell quickly to the rebels, Badajoz saw fierce resistance. The brutal repression that followed the capture of Badajoz, including the massacre in the city’s bullring, became a symbol of the war’s brutality. The region remained divided, with the northeast of Badajoz not falling to the Nationalists until March 1939.