As I've continued the Ken Follet History Trilogy with Book 2 "Winter of the World", I've returned to a fascination with European History. I'm only 4 chapters into the book and am already enjoying the historical insight of Europe in the mid-to-late 1930s with the backdrop of the rising Nazi Germany. At this point in the book some of the characters, the offspring of the characters from book 1, have delved into an event that has always interested me; The Spanish Civil War.
All I know of the Spanish Civil War is that it was a precursor to WWII in the late 1930s. The conflict could be seen as a major proxy war between Communism and Fascism. It was the Fascist General Francisco Franco who was able to wage the war and drive out the liberals, communists, and anarchists from power. He was a ruthless leader who lead Spain for many years after the Civil War and World War II.
I became more attuned to the Spanish Civil War thru numerous film references yet especially from one of my all time favorite films, Pans Labyrinth. This film is actually set in 1944, during the aftermath of the civil war, however captures the atrocities of the period. At that point the Fascist Falange Party had won control of the country yet were still facing rebel uprisings. As a historical enthusiast, especially one of European history, I had many questions from this topic; Such as what caused the Spanish Civil War, what political sides and ideals were in conflict, and why did Spain not get involved in WWII. Therefore in this post I'm finally going to study and capture the historical components of one of Spain's most significant events.
The Second Spanish Republic
During WWI Spain was able to remain neutral under the reign of King Alfonso XIII. However the working class had grown very frustrated with the corrupt Bourbon monarchy. In 1873 the industrial workers were able to overthrow Queen Isabella II and establish the First Spanish Republic. However the government was hardly able to establish itself before it was overthrown by conservative opposition and thus the monarchy was restored. It was during the Restoration period where new liberal factions begun to spread throughout Spain. This included socialists, anarchists, Catalan nationalists, and Carlists (Carlists were essentially against the Bourban dynasty claiming that King Alfonso did not have a rightful claim to the throne).
In 1923 a military coup led by Miguel Primo de Rivera overthrew the monarchy and slowly transitioned into a military dictatorship. Rivera was able to defeat the monarchists however was not able to govern well and the monarchy still had limited powers. After several years Rivera was replaced by two different generals who also were inept at governing yet still able to maintain order. In 1931 a revolutionary committee was established to form a republic. As a result King Alfonso XIII acknowledged the government and fled the country. Thus the Second Spanish Republic was formed in 1931 and Niceto Alcala-Zamora became it's first head of state.
The Rise of Spanish Fascism
As the newly formed government began to move in a liberal direction, new opposition arose from conservatives, monarchists, and nationalists. It was during this time of the Great Depression that the ideology of Fascism had arose from Italy and had spread into Germany and other nations. The general concept of Fascism was of national unity strongly opposed to the Communist concepts of class war and liberalism. However the Fascist ideology was different for each country depending on their internal affairs. For example Mussolini's Fascism wanted to expand Italy into a new Roman Empire, while Hitler's Nazism wanted to do the same while also eliminated all Jews. The Spanish version of Fascism had components of monarchism and Catholic influence, and became known as Falangism.
In 1933, Jose Antonio Primo de Rivera, the son of General Rivera whom had overthrown the monarchy, officially formed the first branch of Spanish fascism known as the Spanish Falange of the Councils of the National-Syndicalist Offensive. Unlike other extreme Fascist or conservative parties Rivera's party was only moderately to the right. They were against Communism and Oligarchy yet were in favor of the Republic government, unlike their monarchist counterparts. However over the years the party began to shift further and further right.
The turmoil and political division continued to split the country throughout the mid 1930s. Soon the monarchists joined the Falange movement in an attempt to defeat the liberal Popular Front party that was in power. Yet political violence became more and more frequent throughout the streets as a reaction to left leaning policies. The 1936 election became the final turning point for a nation ready to implode.
The Popular Front was able to win the election and in an effort to subdue the threat from the right they persecuted and later executed one of it's top leaders, Jose Antonio. This was perhaps one of the final straws which led to political insurrection and eventual civil war. A conservative coalition was organized by General Francisco Franco to overthrow the Republic. The group consisted of multiple conservative factions from military officers, fascists, Carlists, monarchists, Catholics, and nationalists. And so the Spanish Coup of July 1936 was able to fracture the Republic Armed Forces and bring a start to the Spanish Civil War.
The Factions and Foreign Support
At the onset of Fransciso's coup the entire nation of Spain was forced to chose a side in the divisive conflict. On one side was the Republican Faction, the left wing of Spanish politics that had established the Second Spanish Republic. Against them were the insurgents known as the Nationalist Faction, a right wing coalition opposed to the Republic government. Both sides had numerous unions both within the country and thru foreign support.
The Republican Faction
The war itself broke out on numerous fronts however the first major victory for the Nationalist rebels came on July 21st when they captured the Spanish naval base in the northwest region of Ferrol. Following this was the Siege of Alcazar, outside of Madrid, which became another decisive Nationalist victory. Francisco Franco assumed the title of El Generalismo of the well organized Nationalist armies. The nationalists quickly had control of the western regions of Spain, and Franco declared himself dictator over the territories.
In March of 1937 however the Nationalists were able to lead a successful offensive of their own at the Battle of Guadalajara. As a result of this defeat, the Nazis quickly came to the aid of Franco's forces and began the Biscay Campaign in the north. By April the Nazi Condor Legion had overwhelmed the Basque nationalists thru the Bombing of Guernica and the eventual fall of Bilbao. The Republican coalition was defeated in the north and Franco's captured territory continued to grow.
By the early months of 1938, the Nationalist armies continued to plow through the northeaster region during the Aragon Offensive. The Battle of Teruel was another decisive victory for Gen Franco as he was able to split the Republican territories in the east. By this point the Republican faction was hopeful for a peace treaty, yet Franco was intent on an unconditional surrender. In July of 1938 the Republicans launched their final offensive to reconnect their territory in the east at the Battle of Ebro. However Franco was able to repel the assault and this became the final blow to the Republican's morale.
The nationalist victory brought about the establishment of a totalitarian state in the likes of Italy and Nazi Germany. Francisco Franco dismantled the government of the Spanish Republic and declared himself dictator. Tens of thousands of Republican dissidents were imprisoned, forced into labor camps, and executed. While hundreds of thousands of refugees fled the country into France and parts of South America.
Meanwhile as the Spanish Civil War came to an end, the Second World War had gotten off to it's start. Both Nazi Germany and Italy expected Spain to join them as an ally, however Franco declared neutrality for his newly established regime. He did however appease the Axis Powers by giving them military and territorial support. Franco was urged by Hitler to enter the war in the Mediterranean islands, and the notable seaport of Gibraltar. However Franco felt it could lead to economic and territorial losses. At that point some even believe he was bribed by British officials not to engage the Allies. Spain thus officially remained neutral while volunteers chose to fight on both sides of the war.
For some twenty years after the civil war, there was a continued resistance throughout Spain of guerrilla warfare. The group of rebel fighters were known as the Spanish Maquis however were ultimately unsuccessful in regaining control of Franco's regime. However following the defeat of the axis powers in World War II, Spain's totalitarian regime slowly transitioned into a Democratic state similar to Britain and France. Before his death in 1975 he restored the monarchy giving power to Juan Carlos. It was Juan Carlos who limited his powers with a transition into a constitutional monarchy. By 1978 a new constitution was formed which dismantled the totalitarian regime and established Spain as a parliamentary democracy.
I became more attuned to the Spanish Civil War thru numerous film references yet especially from one of my all time favorite films, Pans Labyrinth. This film is actually set in 1944, during the aftermath of the civil war, however captures the atrocities of the period. At that point the Fascist Falange Party had won control of the country yet were still facing rebel uprisings. As a historical enthusiast, especially one of European history, I had many questions from this topic; Such as what caused the Spanish Civil War, what political sides and ideals were in conflict, and why did Spain not get involved in WWII. Therefore in this post I'm finally going to study and capture the historical components of one of Spain's most significant events.
The Second Spanish Republic
During WWI Spain was able to remain neutral under the reign of King Alfonso XIII. However the working class had grown very frustrated with the corrupt Bourbon monarchy. In 1873 the industrial workers were able to overthrow Queen Isabella II and establish the First Spanish Republic. However the government was hardly able to establish itself before it was overthrown by conservative opposition and thus the monarchy was restored. It was during the Restoration period where new liberal factions begun to spread throughout Spain. This included socialists, anarchists, Catalan nationalists, and Carlists (Carlists were essentially against the Bourban dynasty claiming that King Alfonso did not have a rightful claim to the throne).In 1923 a military coup led by Miguel Primo de Rivera overthrew the monarchy and slowly transitioned into a military dictatorship. Rivera was able to defeat the monarchists however was not able to govern well and the monarchy still had limited powers. After several years Rivera was replaced by two different generals who also were inept at governing yet still able to maintain order. In 1931 a revolutionary committee was established to form a republic. As a result King Alfonso XIII acknowledged the government and fled the country. Thus the Second Spanish Republic was formed in 1931 and Niceto Alcala-Zamora became it's first head of state.
The Rise of Spanish Fascism
As the newly formed government began to move in a liberal direction, new opposition arose from conservatives, monarchists, and nationalists. It was during this time of the Great Depression that the ideology of Fascism had arose from Italy and had spread into Germany and other nations. The general concept of Fascism was of national unity strongly opposed to the Communist concepts of class war and liberalism. However the Fascist ideology was different for each country depending on their internal affairs. For example Mussolini's Fascism wanted to expand Italy into a new Roman Empire, while Hitler's Nazism wanted to do the same while also eliminated all Jews. The Spanish version of Fascism had components of monarchism and Catholic influence, and became known as Falangism.
In 1933, Jose Antonio Primo de Rivera, the son of General Rivera whom had overthrown the monarchy, officially formed the first branch of Spanish fascism known as the Spanish Falange of the Councils of the National-Syndicalist Offensive. Unlike other extreme Fascist or conservative parties Rivera's party was only moderately to the right. They were against Communism and Oligarchy yet were in favor of the Republic government, unlike their monarchist counterparts. However over the years the party began to shift further and further right.The turmoil and political division continued to split the country throughout the mid 1930s. Soon the monarchists joined the Falange movement in an attempt to defeat the liberal Popular Front party that was in power. Yet political violence became more and more frequent throughout the streets as a reaction to left leaning policies. The 1936 election became the final turning point for a nation ready to implode.
The Popular Front was able to win the election and in an effort to subdue the threat from the right they persecuted and later executed one of it's top leaders, Jose Antonio. This was perhaps one of the final straws which led to political insurrection and eventual civil war. A conservative coalition was organized by General Francisco Franco to overthrow the Republic. The group consisted of multiple conservative factions from military officers, fascists, Carlists, monarchists, Catholics, and nationalists. And so the Spanish Coup of July 1936 was able to fracture the Republic Armed Forces and bring a start to the Spanish Civil War.
The Factions and Foreign Support
At the onset of Fransciso's coup the entire nation of Spain was forced to chose a side in the divisive conflict. On one side was the Republican Faction, the left wing of Spanish politics that had established the Second Spanish Republic. Against them were the insurgents known as the Nationalist Faction, a right wing coalition opposed to the Republic government. Both sides had numerous unions both within the country and thru foreign support.
The Republican Faction
- The Popular Front: It was the major left leaning political party in the Second Spanish Republic. In 1936 their leader Manuel Azana won the election which would trigger the civil war. Their ideals consisted of progressiveness, republicanism, secularism, and anti-fascism. They were also referred to as the Loyalists.
- Basque Nationalists: This regional faction was a center to right organization strong in its Christian principles yet also strongly opposed to fascism. Their ideals incorporated blends of conservatism as well as Christian democracy.
- Catalan Nationalists: Another regional faction that stood for it's own independence while siding with the Republican coalition. This group consisted of left-leaning and even anarchist ideologies.
- CNT (National Confederation of Labor): They were a labor union who favored anarchism thru industrial syndicalism. They were driven by a goal to end the wage system and establish a cooperative economy.
- FAI (Iberian Anarchist Federation): They were a labor union from the Iberian region, united with the CNT's anarchist goals.
- UGT (General Union of Workers): This organization was a general union of workers who favored a socialist government rather than an anarchic-syndicalism.
- Soviet Union: The rising superpower of Communist Russia saw this conflict as a good opportunity to further spread their ideals. They became the Republicans greatest source of weapons, supplies, and council. However they also became one of the downfalls to the Republican faction due to cultural differences. Basically the Spanish fighters didn't want to take orders from Russian officers.
- Mexico: Having just had a revolution of their own, the Mexican government related with the Spanish Republicans and openly sent them money and supplies while most of the world remained neutral.
- Foreign Volunteers: Nearly 40,000 volunteers from other countries arrived to fight on the side of the Republicans. These consisted of students, workers, communists, anarchists, and socialists all who shared left-wing ideals.
The Nationalist Faction
- The Falange: This political party became the majority of the Nationalist Faction. They were essentially a milder form of Fascism with components of national Catholicism, monarchism, and anti-Communism. After Franco assumed leadership of the party he emphasized that they were not Fascist however shared closer ideals than that of Communism.
- CEDA (Spanish Confederation of Automonous Right Wing Groups) This was essentially a Catholic Conservative coalition Their primary concern was the defense of morals and principles in the face of too much liberalism.
- Carlists: They were a faction of ultra traditional monarchists who had opposed the Bourban dynasty many years before the establishment of the Republic. They were devout Catholics and extremely anti-socialist.
- Alfonsists: They were also a faction of monarchists who supported the restoration of Alfonso XIII. While they conflicted with the Carlists and other monarchist factions, they despised the Republican government more than anything.
- Italy: Benito Mussolini openly supported the Spanish Nationalist campaign with hopes to spread his Fascist ideals. He sent over 37,000 ground soldiers as well as bomber aircrafts and supplies.
- Nazi Germany: Adolf Hitler also saw the Civil War as a political opportunity to strengthen his rising power. He openly used the battlefield as a means to re-arm his nation and essentially test new equipment and military tactics against the Spanish Republic.
- Portugal: They were much more discreet in their support of the nationalist force. They opened their Iberian borders to nationalist activities, offered logistical support, supplies, ammunition, and over 10,000 volunteers.
- Vatican City: They were at first hesitant to officially support the Nationalist uprising however shared its traditionalist views. However thru the use of propaganda, the Nationalists were able to depict the Republicans as the enemies of God. Before the end of the war, the Vatican City officially supported the Nationalists.
The Civil War
Following the Nationalist Coup, began a series of political purges from both sides known as the Red Terrors and the White Terrors. The Red Terrors were initiated by the Republican faction with mass executions of Catholic clergymen, industrialists, and right-wing politicians. The number of deaths range from 40 to 70,000. Meanwhile the Nationalists also initiated a political purge of mass executions on liberals, anarchists, socialists, protestants, communists, and free-thinking citizens. The numbers of death ranged from 150 to 400,000. The month of July was the bloodiest of these purges and brought a swift divide in the nation.
The war itself broke out on numerous fronts however the first major victory for the Nationalist rebels came on July 21st when they captured the Spanish naval base in the northwest region of Ferrol. Following this was the Siege of Alcazar, outside of Madrid, which became another decisive Nationalist victory. Francisco Franco assumed the title of El Generalismo of the well organized Nationalist armies. The nationalists quickly had control of the western regions of Spain, and Franco declared himself dictator over the territories.
In November of 1936 the Nationalists continued their offensive on Madrid, yet were repelled by the Republican armies. This would lead to a three year long siege. Yet the moral remained with the Nationalists as they were reinforced by thousands of Italian troops from Mussolini. The Republican armies were not as organized and soon their Popular Front diminished into coalitions of militias and labor unions. In Feb of 1937 Franco lead another successful assault at the Battle of Malaga to capture more territory in the southeast of Spain.
In March of 1937 however the Nationalists were able to lead a successful offensive of their own at the Battle of Guadalajara. As a result of this defeat, the Nazis quickly came to the aid of Franco's forces and began the Biscay Campaign in the north. By April the Nazi Condor Legion had overwhelmed the Basque nationalists thru the Bombing of Guernica and the eventual fall of Bilbao. The Republican coalition was defeated in the north and Franco's captured territory continued to grow.
Things grew worse for the Republicans as infighting arose in the region of Catalonia between Anarchists and Communists. While they were able to contain the situation they were unable to put pressure on the Nationalist armies and in July of 1937 suffered another decisive loss at the Battle of Brunete, near Madrid. Franco was able to further expand his control through the northeastern regions with victories at Aragon, Santander, and Gijon. By the end of 1937 his armies were moving in on the key city of Valencia which forced the Republican government to retreat to Barcelona.
By the early months of 1938, the Nationalist armies continued to plow through the northeaster region during the Aragon Offensive. The Battle of Teruel was another decisive victory for Gen Franco as he was able to split the Republican territories in the east. By this point the Republican faction was hopeful for a peace treaty, yet Franco was intent on an unconditional surrender. In July of 1938 the Republicans launched their final offensive to reconnect their territory in the east at the Battle of Ebro. However Franco was able to repel the assault and this became the final blow to the Republican's morale.
At the start of 1939, the Nationalist army led a massive invasion of Catalonia and after two months had secured the region including the key city of Barcelona. The final stronghold was the capital city of Madrid which did not last long. On April 1st the Republicans officially surrendered and Gen Franco proclaimed victory for his Nationalist side. Spain was now in the hands of yet another Fascist dictator.
Francoist Spain
The nationalist victory brought about the establishment of a totalitarian state in the likes of Italy and Nazi Germany. Francisco Franco dismantled the government of the Spanish Republic and declared himself dictator. Tens of thousands of Republican dissidents were imprisoned, forced into labor camps, and executed. While hundreds of thousands of refugees fled the country into France and parts of South America.
For some twenty years after the civil war, there was a continued resistance throughout Spain of guerrilla warfare. The group of rebel fighters were known as the Spanish Maquis however were ultimately unsuccessful in regaining control of Franco's regime. However following the defeat of the axis powers in World War II, Spain's totalitarian regime slowly transitioned into a Democratic state similar to Britain and France. Before his death in 1975 he restored the monarchy giving power to Juan Carlos. It was Juan Carlos who limited his powers with a transition into a constitutional monarchy. By 1978 a new constitution was formed which dismantled the totalitarian regime and established Spain as a parliamentary democracy.
