Spanish Civil War

The Spanish Civil War was an internal struggle in Spain that began with the military uprising of July 17-18, 1936, and ended with the defeat of the Spanish republic on Mar. 28, 1939. Many parties and groups were involved in the hostilities. Besides the military, the Nationalist side included conservatives from many parties and extreme rightists such as the CARLISTS and members of the Falange. On the Republican or Loyalist side were republicans, Socialists, Communists, the anarchist CNT (Confederacion Nacional del Trabajo), and the revolutionary Marxist POUM (Partido Obrero de Unificacion Marxista), the dissident faction of the Spanish Communist party.

The story of the Spanish republic before 1936 was one of increasing polarization: from 1931 to 1934 a mildly reformist government alienated landowners, officers, and clergy; from 1934 to 1936 a conservative government reversed the reforms of its predecessor and repressed workers' rebellions; and in 1936 a leftist Popular Front government threatened to bring about a social revolution.

The war began with a military uprising in Spanish Morocco, led by Gen. Francisco FRANCO, that rapidly spread to garrisons in Spain. The insurgents seized control of the agrarian provinces of western Spain but failed in the more urban industrial regions of Catalonia, Aragon, the Basque provinces, the Levant, and Madrid. By the end of July 1936, Spain was split in two. From the north, the army of Gen. Emilio Mola pushed toward Madrid; Franco's forces did likewise from Andalusia; and the leftist parties and labor unions prepared to defend Madrid. The defense was successful, but the Loyalists could not push the Nationalists back, and the fighting turned into a stalemate during the winter of 1936-37.

During its first months, the war acquired international political and ideological significance. Within less than a year from the conflict's onset, Fascist Italy sent about 70,000 ground troops to aid the Nationalists, and Nazi Germany provided planes, pilots, arms, and technicians. The USSR sent weapons and advisors to the Republicans; the Comintern organized thousands of liberals and leftists from 53 foreign countries--particularly from France--into volunteer International Brigades formed to fight fascism.

The conflict in Spain represented in microcosm the polarization of much of the Western world into extreme left and right camps. Under these ideologically charged circumstances, both sides engaged in mass arrests and executions in the name of anticommunism or antifascism. Serving as a battleground for conflicting nations and as a proving ground for new weapons, the Civil War later became known as a dress rehearsal for World War II. Missing, however, were the Western democracies. The United States embargoed arms shipments to both sides, and Britain and France also pursued a policy of nonintervention. These actions represented a great blow to the Loyalists, who as representatives of Spain's legal government had hoped for aid from the Western powers.

In 1937 the Nationalists scored some gains, taking Malaga in February and the Basque provinces and Asturias by October. Madrid, however, held out. Meanwhile, the Loyalists, unlike their well-disciplined opponents under Franco's dictatorial rule, were beset by internal strife. In May 1937 anarchists and radical Marxists staged an abortive revolution in Barcelona that was opposed by the Socialists and Communists. The Communists, who as the conduit for Soviet aid became increasingly influential on the Loyalist side, led a drive to repress the ultra-leftist elements.

Soviet supply shipments declined in 1938, giving the Nationalists a substantial military edge. In December 1937 the Loyalists captured Teruel in a counteroffensive, but in February 1938 the Nationalists recaptured the town and drove from there to the Mediterranean, dividing the Loyalist forces in two. After an unsuccessful drive into Valencia during the summer, Franco moved on Catalonia in the winter of 1938-39, and Barcelona was captured on Jan. 26, 1939. Isolated in Madrid and Valencia, the Loyalists were sharply divided over whether to continue fighting. When Madrid fell to Franco's forces on Mar. 28, 1939, the Civil War was over.

Daniel R. Headrick

Bibliography: Bolloten, Burnett, The Spanish Civil War (1991); Brenan, Gerald, The Spanish Labyrinth (1943; repr. 1990); Cortada, J., Historical Dictionary of the Spanish Civil War (1982); Ellwood, S., The Spanish Civil War (1991); Jackson, G., The Spanish Republic and the Civil War (1985); Lee, Laurie, A Moment of War: A Memoir of the Spanish Civil War (1993); Orwell, George, Homage to Catalonia (1938; repr. 1969); Thomas, Hugh, The Spanish Civil War, rev. ed. (1977).

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