The Spanish Civil War: A Concise Overview
The Failure of the Coup d’état
General Goded’s Uprising
General Goded led the uprising in Catalonia, which had little support from the civilian population. Part of the army, especially the Civil Guard and the Assault Guard, remained loyal to the Republic. Leftist parties and trade unions actively resisted the coup. After two days of fighting, the military rebels withdrew.
The Coup’s Failure and the Division of Spain
The coup failed in Catalonia, Madrid, Basque industrial zones, Asturias, Santander, Valencia, and parts of Extremadura and Andalusia. Spain was divided into two areas, leading to the outbreak of the Civil War.
The Internationalization of the Conflict
European Political Tension
The European political situation in 1936 was tense due to the rise of fascism and Nazism. The Spanish Civil War immediately had major international repercussions, seen as a confrontation between democratic forces and fascist regimes.
Support for the Rebels
The rebels received assistance from Germany (Condor Legion) in aviation, artillery, tanks, and transmission facilities. They also received Italian troops and volunteers from Portugal.
Non-Intervention and Support for the Republic
France and Britain created the European Committee of Non-Intervention to avoid escalating tensions. The Republic faced a lack of European support, with France closing its border and Britain enacting a total ban on aid. The USSR became the Republic’s sole supplier of weapons and military advisors. International Brigades, composed of volunteers from various countries, also provided international solidarity.
Two Spains Emerge
Social Revolution in the Republican Zone
The tension maintained during the years of the Republic broke with the coup, triggering a revolutionary situation.
Workers’ Committees and Militias
In the first days of the war, leftist parties and trade unions organized workers’ committees to direct the war effort and control the rear. They created armed militias to arrest the rebels. In Catalonia, the Antifascist Militias Committee emerged, urged by the CNT-FAI, which included parties from the Popular Front.
Collectivization and Anticlericalism
The workers’ committees collectivized factories and confiscated land from large landowners. A strong wave of anticlericalism was unleashed, with priests persecuted, religious events banned, and any symbol of aristocratic or bourgeois religion considered an enemy. People were killed or imprisoned for their beliefs.
Restoration of Republican State Structure
In September 1936, a process of restoring the republican state structure began to control the situation. In November, Largo Caballero’s government moved from Madrid to Valencia. The Republic aimed to maintain order and merged the militias into a People’s Army.
Confrontation of 1937: Division within Republican Forces
The Republic’s military failures led to divisions within its forces. The Republican government prioritized the war effort, while anarchist, Trotskyist, and Marxist groups opposed government actions. In May 1937, an armed clash occurred in Barcelona (May Days).
Negrín Government and Resistance
Following the May Days, a new government was formed without many anarchists and communists. The government imposed its authority on the committees, settled some of the collectivized properties, and focused on the war effort. It proclaimed a policy of extreme resistance (Thirteen Points) with the strengthening of state institutions and the promotion of the People’s Army.
The Rebel Zone: A Military Dictatorship
Defense Board and Franco’s Leadership
The rebels fighting against the Republic formed the Defense Board. On October 1, 1936, General Franco was named Generalissimo and head of government. In April 1937, the unification of all political forces into a single party was declared: the Falange Española Tradicionalista y de las JONS (FET y de las JONS).
Government of Burgos and Repression
The Francoist government was conservative and authoritarian. It aimed to dismantle the Republican reforms.
Systematic Repression
In areas dominated by Franco’s forces, there was systematic persecution of Popular Front representatives with the consent of some social groups and the Church. The repression aimed to instill fear in the population and ensure loyalty to the new regime.
The Evolution of the War
Consolidation of Two Zones
By the end of July 1936, two zones had consolidated: the Republican and the rebel zones. The rebel zone included parts of Andalusia, Castile and León, Galicia, the Balearic Islands, and sectors of Aragon and Extremadura, which were predominantly agricultural and conservative. The Republic held the north, Catalonia, Levante, Madrid, Castile-La Mancha, and part of Andalusia, which had industrial and working-class centers.
Advance towards Madrid
The rebels’ strategy was to advance south towards Madrid and capture the capital. They occupied Extremadura in August and Toledo in December. The Republic abandoned Madrid for Valencia to avoid an attack. In November, Republican forces halted Franco’s offensive. Attempts to penetrate the city (Battle of Jarama and Guadalajara) were unsuccessful, leading to a change in strategy.
The Battle of the North
Between April and October 1937, the northern territories fell to Franco’s forces. On April 26, the bombing of Guernica took place. In June, Franco’s troops occupied Bilbao and the industrial and mining areas of the north. While Republicans launched offensives (Belchite, Brunete) near Zaragoza and Madrid, they could not prevent the fall of Santander and Asturias.
Battle of the Ebro and the Fall of Catalonia
In 1938, Franco’s troops advanced in Aragon and reached the Mediterranean coast at Castellón, isolating Republican territory. The Republicans launched the Battle of the Ebro to push back the enemy. It lasted over three months and resulted in heavy casualties. In November 1938, after fierce fighting, the Republicans withdrew. Franco’s forces advanced on Barcelona, which was occupied on January 26, 1939. Shortly after, Franco’s troops reached the French border, ending the war in Catalonia.
The End of the War and Exile
The Fall of Madrid and the End of the Conflict
By February 1939, only Madrid and the central area remained in Republican hands. A coup created a council to negotiate with Franco, but he rejected it. Between February and March, Franco’s forces occupied the remaining territory. On April 1, 1939, the conflict was officially declared over.
Exile and the Aftermath
Over half a million Spaniards fled to France, fearing reprisals after the Republican defeat. Only half returned to Spain within months; the rest began a long exile. When World War II broke out, thousands of Spanish Republicans in France resisted the Nazis, with some ending up in concentration camps. About 16,000 Spaniards died. Another group went to Latin America or the USSR. A government-in-exile was established in Mexico.