Spanish Civil War: Uprising, Development, and Key Players
The National Uprising (July 17-18, 1936)
The anti-war development and the 1932 uprising (Sanjurjada) saw the conviction of those involved, during the Black Biennial, followed by their release. The Portuguese left was in exile. Shortly after returning, General Franco emerged as the main leader of the rebel forces.
The National Uprising was called against the Second Republic. On July 17, 1936, riots began with Moroccan troops, where those opposing Franco were killed or imprisoned. Franco, stationed in the Canary Islands, traveled to Morocco to assume leadership of the army.
- Generals in Melilla, Franco, and Yagüe (head of the Moroccan army) were involved.
- Queipo de Llano in Seville, Mola in Pamplona, and others joined the uprising.
- They justified the uprising as a defense of religion and against centralism.
- The uprising failed in Madrid and Barcelona, but gained strength in various parts of Spain, dividing the country into two zones.
Government Response
The government, having learned from the failed 1932 Sanjurjada, did not initially take significant measures. Prime Minister Casares Quiroga resigned. Azaña, President of the Republic, appointed Giral (left-leaning Republican) to form a government. The government, composed of all Republican ministers, received public support from all sectors of the Popular Front.
Economic Situation
- Government: Controlled mining and industrial resources, and most of the agricultural land in the east of the peninsula.
- Rebels: Controlled arable plateau lands in Galicia, León, Castile, Navarre, Álava, Seville, parts of Spain, the Canary Islands, and Morocco.
Military Strength
Military strength was almost equally distributed, but the rebel troops included colonial forces, who possessed the most combat experience.
Support and Alliances
- Government: Supported by leftist political and trade union organizations.
- Rebels: Supported by the opposing Falange and Carlist Requetés guerrillas.
Both Spain and the Basque Country were divided. Álava and Navarre sided with the rebels.
- Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa remained loyal to the government, divided into three blocks (right, left, and nationalist).
- Exceptions included the barracks in Loyola, San Sebastián.
- Basque coastal areas had difficult communications with Asturias and Cantabria.
- Foreign states imposed non-intervention agreements, blocking supply routes.
Pamplona held a strategically important position, facilitating relations with the Carlists. The Carlist forces, known as Requetés, were paramilitaries trained with Italian Fascist support. Therefore, on July 18th, numerous well-organized and equipped rebel groups, including the army, were fighting in the north.
War Development (Post-1936)
- The rebel army’s first challenge was transporting troops from Morocco to the peninsula. German and Italian assistance was crucial.
- An air bridge was established between Andalusia and Africa, allowing the colonial army to be transported.
- Once on the peninsula, the rebel troops attempted to unite and advance towards Madrid.
- The initial attempt to conquer Madrid failed due to the strong defense by the Republican army, militias, and the International Brigades.
- After this failure, Franco abandoned the immediate conquest of Madrid and began planning for a prolonged war.