Spanish Civil War 1936-1939: Key Events and Reforms

The Disaster of '98

• Independence movements emerge in Cuba and Philippines in late 19th century
• 1898, USA warship USS Maine exploded in Havana

"Yellow journalism" find a definition and an example Highly sensationalist reporting without full evidence "Remember the Maine, to hell with Spain"

• This led to the Spanish-American War that year
• USA defeated Spain Cuba became "independent" (under US control) Puerto Rico and Philippines became US colonies
• Caused an identity crisis in Spain (end of the empire, fall from grace etc.) led to an intellectual climate of pessimism Regeneracionismo - intellectual, scientific study of Spain's decline as a major power.

Constitutional Crisis

• Spain was a constitutional monarchy as a result of the Constitution of 1876.
• It operated under a system of "turnismo"
• Spain's 2 main parties, the liberal and conservative parties, took "turns" in power.
• This was relatively popular until the 20th century, when new political forces emerge
• Catalan and Basque bourgeoisie supported nationalist parties
• Lower classes supported republican parties and the PSOE
• Many people joined trade unions: CNT (anarchist) UGT (communist)

Social & Political changes led to high tensions and often violence

• Tragic Week in Barcelona (1909)
• Protests of 1917, 3 different crises

1. military personnel protested hiring practices
2. Barcelona demanded autonomy for Catalunya
3. trade unions called a general strike

• Worker's movements/protests intensified from 1917 to 1923
• All led to political instability

Dictatorship of Miguel Primo de Rivera

• The Disaster of Annual (1921) shook Spain.
• Miguel Primo de Rivera staged a coup d'état with Alfonso XIII's approval in 1923
• Taking advantage of the political instability and the king's fear of republicanism
• Primo de Rivera suspended the constitution, dissolved parliament, banned political parties and trade unions
• Primo de Rivera ended the war in Morocco in 1927, and was in power during a time of economic prosperity
• Thus, he was relatively popular for a while
• However, late 1920s the regime became unpopular among intellectuals, students, workers and nationalist groups.
• The economic crisis arrived to Spain in 1929, Primo de Rivera couldn't control it
• Alfonso XIII withdrew support for the dictatorship, Primo de Rivera resigned in 1930.
• Constitution of 1876 restored

The Second Spanish Republic

• August 1930, republican/socialist/catalan nationalist parties signed the Pact of San Sebastian which planned to overthrow the monarchy
• failed republican uprising (Jaca Uprising), December 1930 Fermín Galan is executed. Becomes a martyr
• 12 April 1931, republican victory in elections. Alfonso XIII went into exile.
• 14 April 1931, provisional government proclaimed the Second Spanish Republic
• provisional Government formed by Pact of San Sebastián parties, led by Niceto Alcalá Zamora, held new elections, republicans won.
• republican-led government approved the Constitution of 1931, establishing a fully democratic regime
• Rights: individual freedoms established (expression, assembly, association, right to divorce, universal male & female suffrage)
• Religion: Spain now had no official religion. The right to a secular education was guaranteed
• Decentralisation: allowed for the possibility of creating autonomous regions
• Social welfare: using public funds for pensions, unemployment, maternity leave, public education

Bienio Reformista 1931-1933

• Tense political atmosphere
• Moderate republicans left over disagreements with the treatment of the Church
• Dec 1931, Zamora became president and Manuel Azaña became prime minister
• Azaña government made reforms.

Main reforms

• Catalan Autonomy: Catalan Statute passed 1932, established the Generalitat de Catalunya
• Military Reform: officers had to swear loyalty to republic. Length of service reduced. Strongly opposed by many generals who later rebelled against the republic
• Agrarian reform: law passed expropriating large estates and land. In practice only a small amount of land went to peasants, and it disappointed many supporters of the republic
• Labour reforms: regulated work contracts, established minimum wage and accident insurance
• Education: seen as key to social progress. 10,000 primary schools built, education budget increased by 50%
• Government faced opposition from the right and left.
• Large landowners, church and army considered the reforms too radical
• Anarchists, communists, trade unionists thought they didn't go far enough
• August 1932, General José Sanjurjo led a failed golpe de estado
• Anarchists organised uprisings and okupas

Bienio Conservador

• Azaña resigned in Sept 1933. New elections held.
• Several right-wing parties joined together to form the CEDA (Confederación Española de Derechas Autónomas) - led by José María Gil Robles
• Centre & right wing parties won the election. The Radical Party, led by Alejandro Lerroux (named PM by President Zamora), formed a new government.

Changes made during the Bienio Reformista were stopped or undone in the Bienio Conservador (1933-35)

• Participants in the Sanjurjo golpe were allowed to return to their military positions

Tensions grew when Lerroux named 3 CEDA members as ministers. In response, The left wing called for a revolutionary strike in Oct 1934

• In Asturias, the strike became a full-scale insurrection. Revolutionary committees of miners took control in areas The uprising was brutally repressed by the army (in which Franco played a role), thousands of deaths and arrests
• In Catalunya, the Generalitat joined the uprising and its president, Lluís Companys, briefly declared a Catalan state within Spain. This was also repressed by force, the Generalitat was abolished, and the Catalan leaders were imprisoned

The government survived, but fell a year later because of ideological divisions and a corruption scandal. New elections were called for in Feb 1936

The Popular Front

Like the right wing parties in 1933, left wing parties worked together in 1936. They formed the Popular Front, a coalition of socialists, communists, left-wing republicans etc. Main parties: PSOE, PCE, Izquierda Republicana, Unión Republicana Supported by: CNT, UGT, Galician & Catalan nationalists On the right, CEDA was still the main party, joined by extremists like the Falange Española (josé antonio primo de rivera) The Popular Front narrowly won the elections, formed a government, prepared new reforms and freed those imprisoned in 1934. Soon after the elections, right wing military officers led by Emilio Mola began to plan a golpe de estado against the republic Azaña replaces Zamora as president at a time of high tension, strikes, church burning and violence July 12 1936, Lieutenant José Castillo, a left-wing officer was killed by rightwing assassins. In revenge, José Calvo Sotelo, a right wing politician, was killed the next day By July, the military conspirators had completed their prep 17th of July, initiated a military rebellion in Spanish Morocco, which spread to peninsular Spain

The Course of The War

1. July 17, 1936: Nationalist uprising begins. Franco leads a military rebellion against the Republican government.
2. July-August 1936: Nationalist forces in Spanish Morocco, led by Franco, swiftly gain control over the region, providing a crucial base for operations.
3. August 1936: Nationalists gain control over large parts of Spain, particularly in the south and west. Republicans maintain hold on major cities, like Madrid and Barcelona.
4. International involvement intensifies. Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany provide military aid to the Nationalists, while the Soviet Union supports the Republicans. Foreign volunteers from around the world join the Republicans as part of the International Brigades.
5. 1937: The Republicans suffer a series of defeats, including the loss of the Basque Country and Asturias. The Nationalists make significant advances in northern Spain.
6. April 1937: The German Luftwaffe and Italian Aviazione Legionaria bomb the town of Guernica, causing widespread destruction and civilian casualties.
7. 1937-1938: The Republicans attempt to mount offensives against the Nationalists but face internal divisions and challenges. The Nationalists gradually gain ground.
8. December 1937-February 1938: The Nationalists launch a major offensive and capture the city of Teruel, dealing a significant blow to the Republicans.
9. July-November 1938: Battle of the Ebro. Largest and bloodiest battle of the Spanish Civil War. Republicans launch a major offensive along the Ebro River. Despite initial gains, Republicans are eventually pushed back by Nationalists.
10. January 1939 - Barcelona is captured with little resistance
11. March 1939: The Nationalists begin a final assault on Madrid, leading to its fall on March 28. The Republican forces surrender, and Franco assumes control over the entire country.
12. April 1, 1939: Franco declares victory, establishing a right- wing authoritarian regime known as Francoist Spain.