The Spanish Civil War

The Spanish Civil War

Period: Jan 1, 1936 to Dec 31, 1937

A New President

May 10, 1936

Manuel Azaña becomes President of the Spanish Republic.

A New Prime Minister

May 13, 1936

Santiago Casares Quiroga becomes Prime Minister, after the post was refused by Indalecio Prieto.

"Instrucción reservada no.1" sent

May 25, 1936

‘Instrucción reservada no.1’ sent by General Emilio Mola, regarding need to unite military and political groups behind a planned military coup.

Murders of Castillo and Sotelo

Jul 12, 1936

Murder of Lieutenant José Castillo Seria (a socialist member of the Assault Guard) by Falangist gunmen in Madrid. Murder of Monarchist leader José Calvo Sotelo in revenge

The Rebellion Begins

Jul 17, 1936

Start of military rebellion against the Spanish government in North Africa, then Spain.

Spain Seperated

Jul 19, 1936

The military uprising is defeated in Madrid and Barcelona. Morocco, Galicia, Navarre, Old Castile and Seville soon come under the control of the rebels. The intended leader of the coup, General Sanjurjo, is killed when the aeroplane carrying him from Portugal to Spain crashes.

New Prime Minister

Jul 19, 1936

José Giral Pereira becomes Prime Minister, following the collapse of the government of Santiago Casares Quiroga and the failure of Diego Martinez Barrio to form an administration. Giral dissolves the army by decree and orders arms to be handed out to workers' organisations.

Seige of Alcazar

Jul 21, 1936

Members of the Civil Guard and military cadets are besieged in the Alcazar citadel, in Toledo, by pro-government forces. After more than two months the siege was raised by Nationalist troops commanded by General Franco. The relief of Alcazar was seen as a great symbolic victory by the Nationalists, and stories of 'red' atrocities towards civilians during the siege were used in anti-government propaganda.

Rebel Government

Jul 23, 1936

Alternative military government - Junta de Defensa Nacional - established by the rebels at Burgos (President: General Miguel Cabanellas).

Franco arrives

Aug 6, 1936

Arrival in Spain of General Francisco Franco from North Africa.

Badajoz

Aug 14, 1936

Capture of the city of Badajoz by Nationalist forces commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Juan Yague. The massacre of an estimated 2,000- 4,000 civilians followed. Badajoz was used in Republican propaganda as a symbol of Nationalist barbarism. The Nationalists' use of Moroccan troops ("Moors") to carry out atrocities against Spaniards in Badajoz and elsewhere was often highlighted.

British Ban Arms Sales

Aug 19, 1936

British government ban on arms exports (including civil aircraft) to Spain comes into force.

Another New Prime Minister

Sep 4, 1936

Francisco Largo Caballero replaces José Giral Pereira as Prime Minister. His coalition government would include socialists, communists, Left Republicans, Basque nationalists and (after 4 November 1936) anarchists.

San Sebastian taken

Sep 13, 1936

The Nationalists take San Sebastian.

Franco appointed Generalissimo

Sep 21, 1936

Rebel leaders agree that General Franco should be appointed supreme commander of the Nationalist forces (Generalissimo).

Franco announced as Head of State

Sep 28, 1936

General Franco announced as ‘Head of the Spanish State’.

"Nationalist Crusade" praised

Sep 30, 1936

Pastoral letter praising the Nationalist 'crusade' published by the Bishop of Salamanca, Plá y Daniel.

International Brigades Formed

Oct 1, 1936

The first International Brigades (Brigadas Internacionales) are formed. Their members are foreign volunteers who had travelled to Spain to fight on behalf of the Republican government.

Franco invested as Caudillo

Oct 1, 1936

General Franco is formally invested as Caudillo (leader of Spain) in the throne room at Burgos on 1 October (Burgos was the location of the alternative Nationalist government).

Madrid Defense Junta Formed

Oct 4, 1936

Evacuation of Republican government from Madrid to Valencia. A Junta de Defensa, under General José Miaja, is left in charge of the capital's defence.

USSR Declines Non-Intervention

Oct 6, 1936

Representatives of the Soviet Union state that they will be no more bound by non-intervention than Germany, Italy and Portugal have been. Within a month tanks and fighter planes from the U.S.S.R. are in action on the Republican side.

Republican 'Mixed Brigades' created

Oct 18, 1936

Republican government decree announces the creation of 'mixed brigades', combining members of regular army units and militia groups into a 'Popular Army'.

Rome-Berlin Axis formed

Oct 25, 1936

Treaty of friendship signed between Italy and Germany, laying the foundations for the Rome-Berlin Axis.

Rome-Berlin Axis formed

Nov 2, 1936

Nationalist troops capture the town of Brunete, west of Madrid.

Mussolini agrees to send expeditionary force

Nov 6, 1936

Mussolini agrees to send an expeditionary force - the Italian Corpo di Truppe Volontarie (CVT) - to assist Nationalist troops in Spain. They arrive in Spain later in December.

Start of ground assault on Madrid

Nov 7, 1936

Start of Nationalist ground assault on Madrid.

Germany and Italy recognise Franco's government

Nov 18, 1936

Germany and Italy recognise the government of General Franco as the legitimate government of Spain.

Death of Durruti

Nov 19, 1936

Death of the anarchist Buenaventura Durruti at Madrid. Three days later, nearly half a million people were estimated to have taken part in his funeral procession at Barcelona.

Execution of José Antonio Primo de Rivera

Nov 20, 1936

Execution of José Antonio Primo de Rivera, leader of the Falange, by Republicans at Alicante.

Franco-Mussolini pact signed

Nov 28, 1936

General Franco signs pact with representatives of Mussolini, agreeing to Italian control of the Mediterranean in return for military aid.

Mussolini agrees to send expeditionary force

Dec 6, 1936

Mussolini agrees to send an expeditionary force - the Italian Corpo di Truppe Volontarie (CVT) - to assist Nationalist troops in Spain. They arrive in Spain later in December.

Start of the Battle of Jarama

Feb 6, 1937

The Battle of Jarama was a Nationalist offensive to cross the river Jarama, to the east of Madrid. It continued for most of February.

Malaga Taken

Feb 7, 1937

The southern port of Malaga is taken by the Nationalist forces.

Battle of Guadalajara

Mar 8, 1937

The Battle of Guadalajara was a Nationalist offensive. The city of Guadalajara is 34 miles north east of Madrid.

Nationalist northern offensive starts

Mar 30, 1937

Start of Nationalist offensive on the northern front, commanded by General Mola.

Bombing at Durango

Mar 31, 1937

Bombing of the Basque town of Durango by German Aircraft

"Events of May" in Barcelona

May 3, 1937

"Events of May" in Barcelona: Divisions between different Republican groups (Communists, socialists and anarchists) result in street fighting. Those killed include the trade union leader and socialist politician Antonio Sesé, and the Italian anarchists Camillo Berneri and Franco Barbieri.

Mola killed

Jun 3, 1937

Death of the Nationalist commander General Emilio Mola in an aircrash.

Start of Huesca Offensive

Jun 16, 1937

Start of Republican offensive against Huesca. The commander of the operation, General Lukács, is killed. Offensive abandoned on 19 June.

Battle of Brunete

Jul 26, 1937

The Battle of Brunete was a republican offensive against Nationalist forces to the west of Madrid

Start of Nationalist offensive towards Asturias

Aug 14, 1937

Start of Nationalist offensive towards Santander and Asturias.

Battle of Belchite

Aug 24, 1937

Start of Republican offensive in Aragon.

Vatican recognises Franco's government

Aug 28, 1937

The Vatican recognizes Franco as a ruler of Spain.

Start of Nyon Conference

Sep 10, 1937

Start of Nyon Conference, in Switzerland, to discuss Italian submarine attacks on international shipping.

Capture of Gijon

Oct 21, 1937

Capture of the city of Gijon (and district of Asturias) by Nationalist forces. All of the north (Cantabrian) coast is now under Nationalist control.

Anarchists withdraw from Republican government

Nov 12, 1937

The anarchist Confederación Nacional del Trabajo (CNT) withdraws from the Popular Front government.

The Battle of Teruel

Dec 14, 1937

In the middle of a harsh winter, Republican forces capture Teruel before being forced to retreat by a Nationalist counter-attack.