Spanish Civil War Timeline: 1936-1939

Posted on Jan 28, 2025 in International Relations

1936

1936
  • February: Popular Front victory in general elections.
  • April: Catalan politicians released from prison and return to government.
  • April: Murder of the Badia brothers by the FAI.
  • May: Manuel Azaña becomes President.
  • July 12: Murder of Lieutenant Castillo.
  • July 13: Murder of Calvo Sotelo.
  • July 17-18: Military uprising against the Republic: Spanish Civil War begins.
  • July 18: Failure of the military uprising. Resignation of Casares Quiroga, a lightning government under Martínez Barrio, and formation of the Giral Government.
  • July 19: Military uprising in Barcelona.
  • July: Republican triumph in Barcelona and Catalonia.
  • July: Start of war and revolution in Catalonia.
  • July-September: Central Committee of Antifascist Militias of Catalonia.
  • July-September: The CNT-FAI directs the revolutionary movement and seizes control of Catalonia. Disturbances and indiscriminate killings. Militants order a general strike and obtain weapons.
  • August: Regional Division of Catalonia.
  • July 23: Junta de Defensa Nacional in Madrid.
  • July 24: The “Durruti Column” starts toward the front of Aragon.
  • August: Constitution of the Committee of Non-Intervention.
  • August: The Army of Africa arrives in the Peninsula.
  • August: Captain Bayo’s landing in Mallorca.
  • September 4: Government of Francisco Largo Caballero.
  • September 5: Nationalists occupy Irun.
  • September 13: Nationalists occupy San Sebastian.
  • September 26: Tarradellas Government (entry of anarchists) and dissolution of the Antifascist Militias Committee of Catalonia.
  • October 1: The Popular Front approves the Statute of the Basque Country in the Courts: formation of the Government of Euskadi.
  • October 1: Franco becomes Generalissimo and Head of State.
  • October 3: Technical Board of the State in Madrid.
  • October 9: Founding of the People’s Army.
  • October 24: Collectivization decree of the Government of Catalonia.
  • November 6: The government of the Republic moves to Valencia, and the Madrid Defense Junta is delegated to General Miaja.
  • November 7: Start of the Battle of Madrid.
  • November: Hitler and Mussolini recognize the Government of Franco.

1937

1937
  • January: Decrees S’Agaró (Tarradellas Plan).
  • February: Battle of Jarama.
  • February 8: Fall of Malaga.
  • March: Battle of Guadalajara.
  • April-October: Northern Campaign.
  • April 26: Bombing of Guernica by the German Condor Legion.
  • May: May Days in Barcelona. Persecution of the POUM. The Generalitat of Catalonia loses some powers.
  • May 15: Resignation of the Largo Caballero government and formation of the Negrín government.
  • June 19: Fall of Bilbao.
  • July: Battle of Brunete.
  • August-September: Battle of Belchite.
  • August 26: Occupation of Santander.
  • October 21: Fall of Gijón. End of the northern front.
  • October 31: Barcelona becomes the capital of the Republic.
  • November: Basque Government in Barcelona.
  • December-February: Battle of Teruel.

1938

1938
  • January 30: Franco’s first government in Burgos.
  • February 22: Conquest of Teruel by Nationalist forces.
  • March: Barcelona is severely bombed.
  • April 3: Nationalist offensive on the Aragon front. Occupation of Lleida.
  • April 5: The Franco government decrees the abolition of the Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia.
  • April 15: Arrival of Nationalist troops in the Mediterranean: the Republic is split in two.
  • May 1: “13 Points” program by Negrín.
  • May 31: Bombardment of Granollers.
  • July-November: Battle of the Ebro.
  • October: Trial against the POUM in Barcelona.
  • October: Withdrawal of the International Brigades.
  • December-February: Final offensive in Catalonia.

1939

1939
  • January 15: Occupation of Tarragona.
  • January 26: Fall of Barcelona.
  • February 1: Last meeting of the Republican Parliament on Spanish territory, in Figueres.
  • February 4: Fall of Girona.
  • March 10: End of civil war in Catalonia.
  • February-March: Exile of thousands of Catalans.
  • February 27: Resignation of Azaña.
  • March 5: Constitution of the National Defense Council in Madrid (Casado).
  • March 28: Occupation of Madrid.
  • March 30: Occupation of Valencia.
  • April 1: End of the Spanish Civil War.