Spanish Civil War: Republican and Nationalist Zones

The Republican Zone During the Spanish Civil War

The Collapse of the Republican State

To tackle the rising, Giral distributed weapons to militias within the unions, and the Popular Front dissolved the traditional army, decreeing the creation of volunteer battalions that formed part of the militia.

In the territory loyal to the Republic, the uprising led to a revolutionary climate. The most significant event, starting in July 1936, was the collectivization of most industrial and agricultural property by committees of workers and peasants. The government soon supported these seizures. Land expropriation and occupation lasted in Aragon, Valencia, La Mancha, and Andalusia, primarily in areas influenced by anarchists and socialists.

Also, in the first months of the war, persecution spread against the church, landowners, and the affluent, primarily by the CNT-FAI and POUM, who escaped the control of the Republic.

By the autumn of 1936, the state’s power had collapsed, and in many places, it had been replaced by revolutionary organizations. Regional councils were formed, such as the Council of Aragon and the Junta de Defensa de Madrid.

In this situation, Largo Caballero (Socialist) assumed leadership of the government (September 1936-May 1937). It included Republicans, Socialists, Communists, and even some anarcho-syndicalists.

The government moved to Valencia due to the rebel attacks on Madrid. However, the interests of the various political forces were very mixed. A sector consisting of Republicans, Socialists, and some Communists favored controlling collectivization and strengthening links with the middle classes. In contrast, anarchists and communists of the POUM (Workers’ Party of Marxist Unification) supported collectivization and revolutionary war. This led to a major confrontation within the ranks of the Republic itself.

In Catalonia, in May 1937, the CNT and the POUM clashed with the Communists and Republicans who controlled the Generalitat. These clashes became bloody (with the eviction of anarchists from the Telefónica building) and ended with the defeat of the anarchists and the banning of the POUM.

Following the events of May, Largo Caballero’s government resigned and was replaced by Negrín (May 1937-March 1939). In this regime, the Communists had great influence. Negrín tried to find a negotiated solution, proposing a 13-point program that sought to end the war while preserving the Republic. However, Franco only accepted unconditional surrender. From then on, Negrín’s government stressed the need to resist, anticipating a general European conflict, but the Republic’s days were numbered.

The Nationalist Zone: Creation of a Totalitarian State

The military uprising was justified by an alleged attempted communist revolution that the Popular Front government was supposedly preparing.

The social and political groups that had supported the uprising accepted the supremacy of the military, who had provided the political initiative and were responsible for starting the new state.

The military rebels in Burgos formed the National Defense Council, chaired by Cabanellas. Its mission was to rule the territory controlled by the Nationalists. It banned political parties, abolished the Republican constitution, and halted land reform.

However, the uprising lacked a paramount chief after the accidental death of General Sanjurjo. In October 1936, Franco was elected Head of Government and Generalissimo of the armies. The National Defense Council disappeared, and a Technical Board of the State was established, based in Valladolid and Burgos.

In reality, the rebel zone had a unified military command but lacked political cohesion. Popular Front parties were banned, but right-wing parties remained: the Falange, the Traditionalists, and the CEDA. Given the need to organize political power, the rebels established a single party. In April 1937, by decree of unification, the Spanish Falange Party and the Traditionalist JONS were created. Franco became the party chief.

The institutionalization of the new Francoist state was completed in January 1938 with the disappearance of the Technical Board and the formation of the first government under Franco. Franco served as Head of State, Head of Government, and Generalissimo of the armies, and was now known as the Caudillo of Spain.

In March, the first of the fundamental laws was passed: The Labor Charter, inspired by Italian Fascism. This laid the foundation for the corporate organization of the state and vertical unionism. Other laws enacted in Burgos included: Legislation on press and media (to control the ideology of the media), legislation for the Church (religious marriage was mandated, divorce was prohibited, and state remuneration of the clergy was established), and the Law of Political Responsibility (against individuals linked to the left).