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King Abdicates and The Formation of The Second Republic
King Alfonso XIII (1885-1931) was a symbol of the traditional Spanish monarchy. Due to his military defeat in Morocco and post-World War I economic problems, the king allowed General Rivera to become Prime Minister in 1923. Rivera attempted to declare an authortarian regime modeled after facist Italy. After a seven year failure to address the country's problems, the King voluntarily abdicated after municipal elections; a velvet revolution had occured and the Second Republic was created. -
Azaña Wins Elections
In the elections that followed Alfonso's abdication, the liberal parties won with the objective of "modernizing Spain". Azaña became the president of the new republic. As leader he reigned in the power of the church and the army, creating internal tensions between the state and historically powerful instutions. Due to his focus on reigning in social instutions, the economic issues that plagued Spain failed to be adressed. In response to Azaña's reforms, the right wing united under CEDA. -
CEDA Takes Power (The Right Republic)
In the elections of 1933, the Republic swung to the right. While the government did not give power to party leader Gil-Robles, he was made War Minister and two other CEDA members were given positions on the cabinet. The new government systematically reversed the leftist reforms and the country went into a new age of violence and conflict known as "the black years". Shortly after the right wing disengerated as the national situation deteriorated. -
The Popular Front
After the disintegration of the right, the Popular Front, an anti-fascist pact made up of various leftist organizations, was victorious in the 1936 elections. The party rose Azaña back into power, however there was no political consensus within the government to reinstate the reforms of 1931-33. This prompted anarchists to encourage unrest among the peasants which lead to the recruitment of militias; the right wing believed Spain was at the verge of a leftist revolution. -
Riots Breakout in Madrid and Across Spain
By the end of the 1936 elections, the rifts in Spanish society were hyper-polarized; there was a fear of an anarchist revolution and concerns about the Popular Front. Anarchists encouraged violent land seizures in the countryside and were filled with revolutionary language. All of these developments were capitalized by the murder of former finance minister José Sotelo on July 13th 1936, this event is considered the trigger for war in the same way Ferdinand's assassination triggered World War I. -
Military Coup/Revolt
The murder of Soleto on July 13th sent the military coup into full swing. Azaña knew there were plans for a coup and made a failed attempt to try to stop it, it was too late. Once the details of the coup were uncovered, it was launched on the 17th from Morocco. The coup quickly spread to northern Spain and parts of the Andalusia; it failed to spread to major industrial areas and Madrid. Thus, half the army remained loyal to the Republic and the other half supported the Nationalists. -
Nazi Intervention
At first Hitler's Germany was cautious into getting involved in the conflict. However, Hermann Göring was able to persuade Hitler that this effort would help limit the spread of communism and would provide the settings to test the German Luftwaffe. Hitler believed the war would be short and thus agreed to help. German involvement was critical to the outcome of the war, not only did they provide necessary military roles but also deterred other governments from getting involved themselves. -
Mussolini Intervention
Italy gave the most assistance of any foreign power; Mussolini wanted to declare Italy as the main power in the Mediterranean and make a statement against communism and for fascism. The Italians sent 70,000-75,000 troops to the Nationalists and also contributed planes, tanks, and weapons. Italy proved to provide excellent naval and air support. As a greater result of this conflict, the relationship between Germany and Italy was formed in Spain. -
The International Brigades
One of the few allies on the Republican side, the international brigades were organized by the Soviet Comintern. 35,000 foreign volunteers came to Spain to fight for the cause of international communism. There role was most significant in the defense of Madrid but their overall impact was limited. In 1938, the Soviet Union withdrew support and the international brigades were disbanded. -
USSR/Marxist Intervention
The USSR was naturally drawn to helping the Republic due to ideological ties, however this was not the only reason. The USSR was concerned about containing Hitler; initially, the USSR did not want to get involved because they believed a Republican victory would lead Britain and France to ally with Germany to prevent the global spread of communism. However due to German and Italian support for the fascists, the USSR pledged full support for the Republicans. -
Battle of Madrid
The Nationalists on many occasions tried to capture the city of Madrid as this was the capital of Spain and the heart of the Republican operation but were repulsed constantly; this constant battle for Madrid would influence strategic decisions elsewhere on other fronts, such as Bruente. 5000 people on both sides of the war were killed in 1936 alone, the battle would not end until March 1939. -
Abraham Lincoln Brigade
The Abraham Lincoln Brigade was an unauthorized group of American volunteers who went to Spain to fight the nationalists. While only a small group of 2800 Americans, they helped aid the Republicans in the Battle of Brunete and the defense of Madrid; their vigilance represents the international support communism had at the time among common people. -
The Malaga Campaign
Malaga, an anarchist stronghold in southwestern Spain, was attacked by the Nationalists along with the Italian CTV forces. The city fell in just a few days and the Republican forces completely routed the area. The devastating defeat for the Republicans resulted in the resignation of the Under Secretary and War and persuaded Mussolini that he should continue Italian involvement and double down on his effort; without the Italians, Nationalist victory would have been much more difficult. -
Guernica Boming
The bombing of Guernica was an aerial attack done by the Condor Legion (German) against the small town of Guernica located in Basque country. The bombing is considered one of the first raids against a defenseless civilian population by an air force. The bombing provided Germany with the opportunity to test their new Luftwaffe Airforce and was the subject of the famous painting by Picasso titled "Guernica". -
Battle of Brunete
One of the first republican offensives of the war, Brunete was attacked to relive pressure on the encircled city of Madrid. Initally, the Republicans made some gains but these were reveresed when Franco reinforced the Nationalist forces. The Republican setback and high casualty rate caused mass dissatisfaction amount Republican and international units. The battle lead the Republicans to lose some of their best soldiers, equipment, and international support. -
Battle of Teruel
The battle of Teruel began when the Republicans launched an offensive on the town, a city located strategically between Republican and Nationalist territory. The battle was extremely bloody, resulting in 140,000 casualties on both sides in the first two months. The battle is considered a decisive battle in the war as Franco's leadership lead to the nationalists regaining Teruel which made it the military turning point of the war; the battle essentially exhausted the Republican Army. -
Vatican Recognizes Franco Regime
The Nationalists always received support from the Catholic Church and the Vatican as they were seen as defenders of Christian civilization against the secular Marxist brutes. Both Pope Pius XI and XII supported Franco, even going to the extent of formally congratulating him at the end of the war with the following statement: "With great joy we address you, most dear children of Catholic Spain, to express to you our fatherly congratulations for the gift of peace and of victory". -
Battle of the Ebro
As a last chance for the Republicans, the Republican Army decided to attack the city of Ebro in July 1938. Although it inflicted heavy casualties on the Nationalists, the Republicans suffered even greater losses that destroyed it as a fighting force. The battle's most significant effect was that it divided Republican territory by separating Catalonia from the rest of its claims, leading to a drastic supply and morale issue. -
Fall of Barcelona
Later in the year, Franco launched a massive offensive against Catalonia. In January the capital of the Republic, Barcelona, completely fell to Nationalist forces. Soon after the rest of Catalonia fell. After this final blow to the Republicans, they attempted to negotiate a peace with Franco, he refused and continued on to win the war. -
Franco Announces The End of The War
With their cause all but lost, Franco entered the city of Madrid victorious on March 28th 1939. Franco would publish a decree of unification stating that the Spanish Civil War is now over. On April 1st all major powers around the world recognized the Franco regime. Over a million people died in the conflict and Republican sympathizers were put in concentration camps. -
Start of World War II (Invasion of Poland)
With the Spanish Civil War at an end, Hitler was given the opportunity to test his Lutftwaffe forces in the coming invasion of Poland. Also, the war emboldened Hitler's popularity at home and cemented its relationship with Italy. On September 1st 1939, emboldened by the isolationism and appeasement by the Allies, Hitler invaded Poland setting off a Second World War that would kill eighty million people around the world.
