The Spanish Civil War: A Comprehensive Overview
The Spanish Civil War (1936-1939)
Development of the War
The Military Uprising and International Dimension
On February 11, 1936, the Popular Front’s victory in the general election caused concerns among both the right and left sectors. The right-wing, including figures like Franco, Mola, and Sanjurjo, began plotting against the Republic. On March 8, 1936, they met to discuss a conspiracy in favor of a civil war. General Mola decided that the plot would commence on July 15th. The murder of Calvo Sotelo (a prominent Nationalist figure) on July 17th caused national outrage and served as the immediate trigger for the mutiny. The uprising began in Melilla, Spanish Morocco, led by General Franco. He later took control of Ceuta. On the other side, the Republican government faced an untenable situation with growing social unrest. On July 18th, the Nationalist uprising began in mainland Spain, led by General Mola in Navarre and Old Castile.
1st Stage (July 1936 – March 1937)
Nationalist Side:
- Launched attacks from Galicia towards Oviedo.
- Advanced from Old Castile towards Madrid and Guipúzcoa.
- Franco landed in Andalusia and advanced towards Madrid.
- Captured Badajoz in August and Toledo in September.
- Relieved the besieged Alcázar of Toledo in September.
- Reached the outskirts of Madrid in November but failed to capture the city.
- Received air and naval support from Hitler and Mussolini.
Republican Side:
- Launched attacks from Catalonia towards Aragon and the Balearic Islands.
- Defended Madrid against Nationalist attacks.
- Failed to capture the Balearic Islands due to Italian intervention.
2nd Stage (April 1937 – November 1938)
Nationalist Side:
- Captured the entire northern front under the leadership of Generals Franco and Mola.
- Launched attacks on Bilbao, Santander, and Gijón, ending the northern Republican stronghold.
- Advanced towards the Mediterranean, capturing Aragon and Lleida.
- Fought the Battle of the Ebro against the International Brigades, a group of volunteers supported by the USSR.
Republican Side:
- Launched sporadic attacks on the Nationalist side with limited success.
- Adopted a primarily defensive strategy.
3rd Stage (December 1938 – April 1939)
The Republican defeat at the Ebro caused severe economic problems and a crisis within the government. Discontent grew, leading to clashes within the Republican side, particularly in Catalonia. On March 29, 1939, the Nationalist army entered Madrid. On April 1, 1939, the Nationalist forces took control of the central zone, ending the war with the Republican side defeated.
International Dimension of the Conflict
Nationalist Side:
- Received military aid from Hitler and Mussolini, including weapons, ships, and soldiers.
- Received support from American and English capitalists and Catholic groups.
Republican Side:
- Received assistance from the Soviet Union, including food and weapons.
- Received support from France and the International Brigades.
The Spanish Civil War coincided with the rise of fascism in Europe and became a testing ground for World War II. France and England signed a Non-Intervention Agreement, which was largely ignored. The war had a global impact, particularly due to events like the murder of Federico García Lorca and the bombing of Guernica.
Political Developments
Nationalist Side
The Nationalist side gradually concentrated power under Franco. They created the National Defense Junta (July 1936), which appointed Franco as head of state and commander of the armed forces. The Decree of Unification (April 1937) merged the Spanish Falange with the Carlist Traditionalist Communion, creating the Falange Española Tradicionalista y de las JONS as the sole political party.
Republican Side
The Republican side had three heads of government: José Giral, Largo Caballero, and Juan Negrín. They aimed to defend the Republic and win the war, but these objectives led to internal divisions.
José Giral: The central government collapsed, leading to the formation of municipal committees. Giral’s government ended with the transfer of the capital to Valencia.
Largo Caballero: Formed a government of concentration, but faced internal differences and eventually resigned.
Juan Negrín: Focused on achieving military victory. His 13 Points offered a possibility for peace negotiations with the Nationalists, but the proposal was rejected.
Consequences of the War
Repression: The end of the war brought a period of repression. The Law of Political Responsibilities (February 1939) and the Law for the Repression of Communism (March 1940) were used to prosecute those who supported the Republic.
Population: The war resulted in a large number of deaths, estimated between 500,000 and 1 million.
Economy: The war caused significant losses in agriculture and industry. Rationing was implemented, and the country faced economic hardship.
Media and Culture: Republican officials were expelled, and many intellectuals and artists went into exile.
Spain’s Role in World War II: Spain initially remained neutral but declared non-belligerency in June 1940. The Blue Division, a volunteer unit, fought alongside the Axis powers on the Eastern Front. Spain later returned to neutrality.