Spanish Civil War

The Spanish Civil War was a big fight in Spain between two groups: the Republicans and the Nationalists. It happened from 1936 to 1939. The Republicans were people who supported the government of Spain at that time. They included many different groups like socialists, anarchists, communists, and others. They had help from the Soviet Union. The Nationalists were a mix of people who wanted a different kind of government, including fascists, monarchists, and conservatives. They were led by General Francisco Franco and had support from Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy.

The war started when some army officers tried to take over the government. This led to fighting all across Spain. Both sides got help from other countries. The Nationalists, led by Franco, slowly took control of more areas. By 1939, Franco's forces had won, and he became the leader of Spain for many years.

The Spanish Civil War was very important because it showed strong feelings and big differences around the world. Many people from other countries also came to fight in the war, showing how much it mattered to them. The war changed Spain a lot and had effects that lasted for many years after it ended.

Background

Main article: Background of the Spanish Civil War

First Republic and restoration

Main articles: First Spanish Republic and Restoration (Spain)

In 1868, people rose up and removed Queen Isabella II from power. In 1873, King Amadeo I, who replaced her, decided not to stay, and the First Spanish Republic began. However, this Republic faced many problems and was soon taken over by General Arsenio Martínez Campos in 1874. After that, the monarchy was brought back under Alfonso XII, Isabella’s son.

After this, groups like the Carlists and anarchists opposed the monarchy. Alejandro Lerroux, a leader of the Radical Republican Party, helped make republican ideas stronger in Catalonia. There were also debates about conscription, and in 1909, known as the Tragic Week, people protested strongly.

Spain stayed neutral in World War I. After the war, many people in Spain, including the military, wanted to change the government in Madrid, but they were not successful. During this time, people became more worried about communism.

Dictatorship of Primo de Rivera

Main article: Dictatorship of Primo de Rivera

In 1923, a military takeover brought Miguel Primo de Rivera to power, and Spain became a military dictatorship. Support for Rivera’s rule slowly faded, and he stepped down in 1930, being replaced by General Dámaso Berenguer, and then by Admiral Juan Bautista Aznar-Cabañas. Both continued to rule strictly.

There wasn’t much support for the monarchy in big cities. Because of this, King Alfonso XIII called elections for April 12, 1931. Left-wing groups like Socialists and Liberal Republicans won most of the votes. After the government resigned, Alfonso XIII left the country, and the Second Spanish Republic was created. This Republic lasted until the Spanish Civil War began five years later.

Second Republic

Main article: Second Spanish Republic

The revolutionary group led by Niceto Alcalá-Zamora became the temporary government, with Alcalá-Zamora as president and head of state. The Republic had support from many people.

Some people planned against the Republic even before it started. By March 1934, these planners convinced Benito Mussolini, leader of Fascist Italy, to help with a future takeover.

In May 1931, a problem with a taxi driver led to attacks on churches in Madrid and other places. The government’s slow response made some people unhappy. In June and July, workers went on strikes, leading to fights and harsh actions by the government against them. This made many workers think the Republic was as bad as the old monarchy.

Constituent Cortes and left-wing government (1931–1933)

Elections in June 1931 were won by Republicans and Socialists. With the Great Depression starting, the government tried to help by creating an eight-hour workday and sharing land with farmers. New boards were set up to help workers, but this made rich landowners unhappy. There were more strikes and protests.

Manuel Azaña became prime minister in October 1931. In December, a new constitution was announced, which made many changes to separate the church and state, like closing Catholic schools. This upset many people.

An attempted takeover by military leaders failed in what is known as the Sanjurjada. Many generals were dismissed, and some people had to leave the country. This event made the left more extreme.

The extreme right kept planning to take over the Republic. New groups like the Spanish Renovation and Falange Española formed, and there were more talks about needing to take action. The right got support from the church and the army. There was also an anarchist uprising that led to violence, including the Casas Viejas massacre.

Right-wing government (1933–1935)

In November 1933, right-wing parties won elections. Reasons included unhappiness with the government’s actions, women voting for the first time (most for right-wing parties), and problems with coalition groups. The Spanish Confederation of Autonomous Right-wing Groups (CEDA) became part of the government. The left worried that CEDA wanted to end workers’ rights and democracy.

Between November 1933 and 1935, known as the “black biennium,” there was growing chance of civil war. The government changed laws, helped people who took part in past uprisings, and used force against workers. Some monarchists joined the Falange to try to reach their goals. In 1934, some military leaders agreed with Mussolini to get help and weapons.

Socialists decided to start a revolution if CEDA joined the government. There were many protests and fights in cities. In December 1933, anarchists tried to start a revolution, but it failed and about 100 people died.

In October 1934, a revolution started but was mostly stopped quickly. However, in Asturias, revolutionaries took over and proclaimed a revolution for workers. The government used ships and soldiers to stop them in two weeks. Manuel Azaña was arrested but later released in 1935.

In 1935, the government faced many problems and President Niceto Alcalá-Zamora called new elections.

Popular Front's victory and escalation 1936

The left-wing Popular Front narrowly won the 1936 elections. After the election, people took to the streets, and there were many attacks on churches and political offices. Manuel Azaña was asked to form a government and later became president.

With tensions high, both sides believed that if the other took control, they would not respect their rights or groups. This made the situation very unstable and led to more violence and unrest across the country.

Military coup

Main article: Spanish coup of July 1936

Background

Main article: 1936 in the Spanish Civil War

After elections in 1936, some army officers planned a takeover. General Emilio Mola led a secret network of officers. The government moved some generals to less important jobs, but the army still held power. General Franco was moved to the Canary Islands, and another general was sent to the Balearic Islands. These moves helped the planners.

Mola wanted a new government that would be strong but not too harsh, keeping some freedoms. However, when fighting began, the plan changed.

In June 1936, a prime minister met a general who lied about his loyalty. Franco was important because he was respected and had led soldiers in past fights. He wrote a secret note suggesting the army was not loyal, but the prime minister did nothing. Rebels used a plane to bring Franco from the Canary Islands to Spanish Morocco on July 19.

On July 12, 1936, a group killed a police officer in Madrid. The next day, another officer led a group that arrested a famous conservative politician. During the arrest, one of the officers killed him. This event helped the officers decide to start their uprising, which led to more fighting.

The plan was to start the uprising on July 17, but it was moved to July 18 in some places. The rebels took control of Spanish Morocco with little fighting. In Spain, some cities joined the rebels, while others stayed with the government. The government asked groups for help and gave out weapons to ordinary people. Quick actions by either side decided who would control each town.

Outcome

The rebels took some cities but not the big ones, except Seville, which became important for bringing in troops. The government kept control of many areas, including Madrid and Barcelona. Both sides had problems with untrained soldiers and old weapons. The rebels called themselves "Nationalists," meaning they were for Spain, not for any special group. The Nationalists had about half of Spain's army and police, while the government had more rifles but fewer modern weapons. The navy and air force were split, with the government having more ships but losing many experienced leaders.

The fight could have ended quickly if either side had made better plans, but it continued and grew into a larger war.

Spanish Revolution

Main article: Spanish Revolution of 1936

See also: Spanish Republic at War

During the Spanish Civil War, workers and farmers in places like Aragon and Catalonia took control of farms and factories. They created new ways to share and manage resources together, such as working farms and running businesses as a group. These changes happened in many areas that supported the Republican side.

Different groups tried to lead these changes, including workers' unions and socialist parties. As the war continued, the government and some political groups worked to bring everything back under their control, sometimes using force. This led to tensions and fighting among the Republican forces themselves.

Combatants

The Spanish Civil War was fought from 1936 to 1939 between two groups: the Republicans and the Nationalists. The Republicans supported the left-leaning government of the Second Spanish Republic. They included socialists, anarchists, communists, and separatists, and were backed by the Soviet Union. The Nationalists were a mix of fascist Falangists, monarchists, conservatives, and traditionalists. They were supported by Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy and were led by General Francisco Franco.

The war began with a military uprising. The forces were split fairly evenly at first, with about 55% of the military supporting the Republicans and 45% the Nationalists. Both sides quickly gained volunteers, with the Republicans getting around 120,000 and the Nationalists around 100,000. Foreign troops also joined, with International Brigades supporting the Republicans and troops from Italy, Germany, and Portugal aiding the Nationalists. By 1937, the Republicans had about 360,000 soldiers, and the Nationalists had about 290,000. The numbers kept growing, with conscription playing a big role. By the end of the war, the Nationalists had over 900,000 troops, while the Republicans had around 400,000.

Foreign involvement

Main articles: Foreign involvement in the Spanish Civil War, International relations (1919–1939), and Non-intervention in the Spanish Civil War

The Spanish Civil War showed how divided Europe was at the time. Some countries and groups supported the Nationalists to prevent the spread of ideas they feared. Others, including workers, students, and intellectuals, saw the war as a fight against unfair rule. Many people around the world did not want war and were worried the conflict might grow into a larger fight.

Many people from outside Spain took part in the war. Britain and France led a group of 27 countries that agreed not to help either side by sending weapons. The United States also stayed out, though some Americans joined to help. Germany, Italy, and the Soviet Union agreed to not get involved but did anyway. Their secret actions worried many people who feared another big war.

Italy joined the war to strengthen its power in the Mediterranean Sea. Italy sent many weapons, planes, and about 50,000 soldiers to help the Nationalists. Italian ships helped break blockades and attacked cities, which caused much concern.

Even though Germany agreed not to help, it sent many weapons and soldiers to support the Nationalists. Germany helped train Nationalist troops and used the war to test new weapons and tactics. One famous event was the attack on a town called Guernica, which caused many civilian deaths and drew strong reactions.

Portugal helped the Nationalists with supplies and allowed their borders to be used. Portugal even sent some volunteers to fight for the Nationalists.

Other groups also fought for the Nationalists. Despite their government's ban, about 600 Irishmen joined to fight for Franco. Small groups from other countries also supported the Nationalists.

Many people from many countries fought for the Republicans. About 32,000 joined what were called the International Brigades. Others joined different groups. They came from many places, including France, Germany, Italy, the Soviet Union, the United States, and more. They believed they were fighting to protect a government that was trying to do what was right.

The Soviet Union sent weapons and some military advisers to help the Republicans, even though it was against the rules. Poland also sent weapons, though they were often old and expensive. Mexico gave money, weapons, and a place for people to safety.

France’s leader wanted to help the Republicans but at first agreed not to. Later, France did send some secret help, like planes and pilots, before stopping again.

Course of the war

See also: List of battles in the Spanish Civil War

1936

Main article: 1936 in the Spanish Civil War

In 1936, Nationalist troops were moved from Spanish Morocco to Spain. One leader, Sanjurjo, died in a plane crash, leaving two main commanders: Mola in the north and Franco in the south. During this time, there were serious problems in Spain. On the fifth day of the fighting, the Nationalists took over a major naval base in Ferrol, Galicia.

A group led by Colonel Beorlegui moved through Gipuzkoa from July to September, separating Republican areas in the north. On September 5th, the Nationalists closed the border with France. On September 15th, they took San Sebastián.

The Republican government struggled to organize its forces, often relying on armed civilians who were not trained soldiers. This made it hard for them to fight against the well-equipped Nationalist troops. On September 4th, the Republican government changed leaders. The new leaders tried to organize the army better.

On September 21st, Franco was named the main military leader by other generals in Salamanca. On September 27th, Franco’s troops succeeded in lifting the siege of the Alcázar in Toledo, which had been surrounded by Republican forces. Two days later, Franco called himself Caudillo. On October 1st, Franco became the leader of Spain.

In October, Franco’s troops began moving toward Madrid. They reached the city in early November and attacked on November 8th. The Republican government moved to Valencia. The Nationalists’ attack on Madrid failed after fierce fighting from November 8th to 23rd. The Fifth Regiment and later the International Brigades helped defend the city. On November 19th, a major Spanish anarchist, Buenaventura Durruti, died in unclear circumstances.

After failing to take Madrid, Franco bombed the city and tried to surround it over the next three years, starting a long siege. A Nationalist attack on the Corunna Road failed to cut off Madrid.

1937

Main article: 1937 in the Spanish Civil War

In early 1937, Franco, supported by Italian troops and soldiers from Morocco, tried again to capture Madrid but failed. The Battle of Málaga began in mid-January and ended with the Nationalists taking the city on February 8th. The Republican forces were not well organized.

The Battle of Jarama was a major fight where both sides suffered many losses, but the Nationalists did not achieve their main goal. A later attack, the Battle of Guadalajara, was a defeat for Franco’s forces. This was the only big Republican victory in the war.

In March, the “War in the North” began with the Biscay Campaign. The Basques had few airplanes. On April 26th, the town of Guernica was bombed, causing many deaths and damage. This bombing affected world opinion. There were also internal fights among Republican groups in Catalonia in April and May.

In July, Republicans tried to take back Segovia but only succeeded for two weeks. The Huesca Offensive also failed. On June 3rd, Mola, Franco’s second-in-command, died in an airplane accident. In July, Republicans attacked near Madrid at the Battle of Brunete, but it was a defeat for them. They lost many experienced soldiers.

Republicans also failed in an attack on Zaragoza. The Battle of Belchite did not achieve much. Franco moved into Aragón and took Santander in Cantabria in August. By late October, Franco’s forces had taken most of the north. The Republican government moved to Barcelona.

1938

Main article: 1938–1939 in the Spanish Civil War

The Battle of Teruel was an important fight in 1938. The Republicans took the city in January, but Franco’s troops recaptured it by February 22nd, with help from German and Italian airplanes.

After Teruel, on March 7th the Nationalists started moving east through to the Mediterranean, splitting Republican-held Spain in two. The Republicans tried to make peace in May, but Franco demanded they surrender completely.

In July, Franco’s army moved south from Teruel toward Valencia but were stopped by strong defenses. The Republicans then tried to reconnect their territory in the Battle of the Ebro from July 24th to November 26th. This large attack forced Franco to take command himself.

The Republican attack on the Ebro failed partly because of agreements made in Munich, Germany, which ended hopes of help from Western powers. The Republicans then withdrew from the Ebro, which helped Franco win. In late December, Franco invaded Catalonia.

1939

Main article: 1938–1939 in the Spanish Civil War

Franco’s troops quickly took Catalonia in early 1939. Tarragona fell on January 15th, Barcelona on January 26th, and Girona on February 2nd. On February 27th, the United Kingdom and France recognized Franco’s government.

Only Madrid and a few other places still held out for the Republicans. On March 5th, some Republican leaders formed a new group to negotiate peace. The prime minister fled to France on March 6th. Fighting broke out in Madrid between different Republican groups. The new leaders began talking to the Nationalists, but Franco insisted on full surrender.

On March 26th, the Nationalists began their final attack. On March 28th, they took Madrid, and by March 31st, all of Spain was under Franco’s control. Franco announced his victory on April 1st.

After the war, many Republicans were imprisoned or faced harsh punishments. Many fled to other countries, with some going to France and then to Chile.

Guerrilla fighting continued for many years after the war. In 1944, some veterans who fought against the Nazis in France tried to invade Spain but were defeated. Some historians believe the Spanish Civil War continued as a guerrilla war until 1952.

Evacuation of children

Main article: Evacuation of children in the Spanish Civil War

During the Spanish Civil War, many children were moved to safer places far away from the fighting. About 30,000 to 35,000 children were taken from places where battles were happening, especially from areas in the north called the Basque regions. These children were sent to live with families in many different countries, including the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, and Mexico.

One group of around 4,000 children from the Basque areas was taken to the UK in May 1937 on a ship called the SS Habana. They arrived in Southampton and were sent to live with families all around England and Wales. Most of these children went back to Spain after the war ended, but some stayed in the UK.

Financing

The Spanish Civil War was very expensive for both sides fighting in it. They spent about $3.89 billion in total during the war. The Nationalists spent around $2.04 billion, and the Republicans spent about $1.85 billion.

Both sides used similar ways to get money for the war. They mostly printed more money instead of raising taxes or borrowing from others. They also used resources from inside their own areas. The Nationalists got about 63% of their money from inside their area, and the Republicans got about 59%.

The Nationalists got help mostly from Italy and Germany, while the Republicans sold gold, mainly to the Soviet Union, to get foreign money. Neither side borrowed money from other countries.

Experts now think that both sides had similar amounts of money, but the Republicans had trouble winning because of international rules that limited their help. They also had to pay more for things and get lower quality supplies. The war also caused their area and resources to shrink over time.

Friction between Republican leadership and Catalonia

After the start of the Spanish Civil War, local groups called militiamen helped protect areas until the main army could be organized. One group from Catalunya tried to take back the island of Mallorca but had to stop because they didn’t get enough help from the government in Spain.

The Spanish government struggled to get weapons because other countries agreed not to sell to them, even though Germany and Italy did not follow this rule. To solve this, Catalunya created its own factories to make supplies for the war. But when the Spanish government moved to Barcelona in 1937, they took control of these factories. Under their control, the factories made much less, which hurt the supply of weapons for the soldiers fighting in the war.

Death toll

The number of people who died during the Spanish Civil War is not fully known and is still debated. Many books, especially from Spain, do not give exact numbers. Historians from other countries often give estimates, but these numbers can change. The estimates for how many people died range from about 250,000 to 1 million.

Different groups of deaths are counted in various ways. Some focus only on people who were killed in battles or related to battles, with numbers ranging from 100,000 to 700,000. Others also count people who were killed outside of battles, either through official trials or other violent acts, with numbers from 103,000 to 235,000. There were also civilians who died from bombings, with numbers from 10,000 to 15,000. When all these groups are added together, the total number of deaths ranges from about 235,000 to 715,000.

Some also include people who died from things like hunger, bad health conditions, cold, and sickness during and after the war. The numbers for these deaths range from 30,000 to 630,000. Some also count deaths that happened after the war because of the fighting, with numbers from 23,000 to 200,000. There are also numbers for foreign soldiers who died, Spaniards who died in World War II, and others who died in related conflicts or from after-effects of the war.

Atrocities

Death counts from the Spanish Civil War are still debated. British historian Antony Beevor wrote that Franco's side resulted in the deaths of around 200,000 people, while the other side killed about 38,000. Julius Ruiz says that at least 37,843 executions happened in the Republican areas, with up to 150,000 in Nationalist Spain. Historian Michael Seidman stated that the Nationalists killed about 130,000 people and the Republicans around 50,000.

In 2008, a Spanish judge, Baltasar Garzón, started looking into the executions and disappearances of 114,266 people between July 17, 1936, and December 1951. This included the poet and dramatist Federico García Lorca, whose body was never found. During Franco’s rule, talking about García Lorca’s death was not allowed.

Since 2016, research has begun to find mass graves using witness stories, remote sensing, and forensic geophysics techniques.

Historians such as Helen Graham, Paul Preston, Antony Beevor, Gabriel Jackson, and Hugh Thomas say that the mass executions by the Nationalists were organized and approved by their leaders. They believe the Republican executions happened because of chaos and breakdown.

Nationalists

Nationalist forces often ordered the killing of people to remove any trace of opposition. Estimates of those killed vary; historian Paul Preston estimates at least 130,000, while Antony Beevor places the number much higher at around 200,000. The violence was carried out by the military, the Civil Guard, and the Falange. Many killings happened in the first few months of the war.

Nationalist forces attacked cities like Seville, Cordoba, Badajoz, Granada, and Malaga. They also targeted specific groups, such as schoolteachers, trade-unionists, politicians, and military officers who refused to support them. They also attacked Protestants and Basques.

The Nationalists carried out aerial bombing of cities in Republican areas, mainly by volunteers from Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy. Cities like Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Guernica, and Durango were bombed.

Republicans

Scholars estimate that between 38,000 and 70,000 civilians were killed in Republican-held areas, with the most common estimate being around 50,000.

When the war began, supporters of the Republican government attacked and killed Roman Catholic clergy. Many priests, monks, friars, and nuns were killed. Civilians were also executed, sometimes as suspected opponents or in revenge for actions by the Nationalists.

There were also conflicts among Republican groups. Some groups were accused of committing mass killings and other harsh actions against fellow Republicans. The Republicans also carried out bombing attacks on cities, though these were often less effective than those by the Nationalists.

Art and propaganda

During the Spanish Civil War, people around the world learned about the conflict through various forms of art and propaganda. Movies, posters, books, radio shows, and leaflets were used to share information and support both sides of the war. Famous writers like Ernest Hemingway and Lillian Hellman helped make a film called The Spanish Earth to ask for help for Spain. Another book, Homage to Catalonia by George Orwell, shared someone’s personal experiences during the war.

Artists also created powerful works to express their feelings. Salvador Dalí painted two strong pieces in 1936. Joan Miró made El Segador (The Reaper) in 1937. And Pablo Picasso painted Guernica in 1937 after a town was bombed. This huge painting became famous for showing the sadness of war and became a symbol for peace.

Consequences

The Spanish Civil War was very costly for both sides. The Republicans spent all their money on buying weapons, while the Nationalists lost many chances to profit after the war because they had to let Germany use their mining resources.

The war had big effects around the world and is sometimes seen as a sign of what would later become the Second World War. After the war, Spain became very close to Germany, Portugal, and Italy, but was isolated from most other countries until the 1950s.