Nature & Practice of the Spanish Civil War

Start of the War In July 1936, the military launched an uprising against the Popular Front government The revolt started with Spanish troops in Morocco and spread throughout other military units Left-wing labor unions mobilized into militias and joined troops loyal to the Republic Civil war started

Foreign Involvement League of Nations imposed an arms embargo to try to limit the fighting and carnage Britain & France were sympathetic to Republicans but did not sell weapons Feared that assisting the Republicans might lead to open conflict with the Nationalist powers Arms embargo proved ineffective as weapons freely entered Spain to assist both sides

German Involvement Franco asked Hitler and Mussolini to assist the Nationalists Germany provided mostly aircraft, tanks, equipment and advice 19,000 troops, 600 planes, 200 tanks, 1000 artillery pieces Hitler’s motives To win another ally against Britain and France To gain access to Spanish raw materials and ports during war time To test and improve the Luftwaffe

Italian Involvement Italy provided more troops but less equipment than Germany 50,000 troops, 660 aircraft, 150 tanks, 1000 artillery pieces Italian Navy helped stop arms shipments to Republicans Mussolini’s motives Fascist solidarity To gain concessions from Spain in the Mediterranean Not to be outdone by Hitler

Soviet Involvement Soviet Union defied the arms embargo and secretly provided the Republicans with equipment but no troops Soviet agents tried to strengthen the Spanish Communist Party and weaken the other Republican factions Stalin’s motives To spread communism To preoccupy the German military To embarrass Britain and France Soviet involvement enabled Nationalists to paint the Republicans as Bolsheviks

1936 Nationalists consolidated control of northern and southern Spain Franco consolidated his control over Nationalist forces and forced factions to unify Nationalists launched an offensive against Madrid but were repulsed due to arrival of International Brigades

Battle for Madrid The Nationalist attack on Madrid was the major campaign of 1936 Nationalists had professional soldiers but were held off by the Republican militia volunteers and the arrival of the International Brigade military units of volunteers from different countries who travelled to Spain in order to fight for the Republicans in the Spanish Civil War The attack resulted in a stalemate The Republican government moved the capital to Valencia while Madrid was under siege

1937 Nationalists made significant territorial gains Italian and German troops and equipment arrived in force April: German Condor Legion bombed town of Guernica Republic launched counter-offensive in Madrid area and killed Mola Nationalists consolidated control of northern Spain Republic moved the capital to Barcelona

Guernica, April 1937 Guernica was a Basque town with a population of about 7,000 It had limited military significance although it had an armaments factory and was one of the main routes to the north April 26, 1937, Guernica was attacked by Italian and mainly German bombers and fighter aircraft. Bombers released 27,000 kg of incendiary bombs 1,500 people were killed and the town was devastated Guernica is significant because it was the first significant example of deliberate targeting of primarily civilian areas

Hitler sent his famous “Condor Legion.” This was a group of skilled pilots with new planes that were skilled at dive bombing.

They bombed the city of Guernica and slaughtered the inhabitants.

1938 At the start of 1938, most of Spain under Nationalist control Except Madrid, the south-east and Catalonia Nationalists conquered most of northern Spain and isolated Catalonia from the south Major Republican counter-offensive called the Battle of the Ebro ultimately failed Republic moved the capital back to Valencia

1939 Franco conquered Catalonia by February Madrid and Valencia were conquered in March 50,000+ Republicans were executed Over 500,000 Republicans fled to France but most were deported back to Spain Some were sent to German concentration camps during WW2 Some guerilla warfare continued into the 1950s

Atrocities on both sides By the Nationalists Executed at least 130,000 Targeted teachers, union leaders, officials, and citizens of captured cities Targeted Protestants and their churches German and Italian air forces conducted aerial bombing of cities 50,000+ Republicans were executed after the war By the Republicans Executed at least 55,000 Targeted clergy and desecrated Church property Killed 20% of all Spanish clergy Nationalist sympathizers were often killed in retaliation for Nationalist atrocities or victories Communists frequently targeted other members of the Republican coalition

The Spanish Civil War Why did Franco and the Nationalists win?

Why the Nationalists won Unified goal Republican factions often had different goals from one another Better support from foreign leaders Germany and Italy were not only willing to commit troops and supplies, but do so on credit A strong leader By the civil war, many, including loyalists had lost faith in the government they fought for

Why the Nationalists won Franco had the support of most powerful groups in Spain - army officers, capitalists, landowners, Catholic Church, Nazi Germany Hitler supported him with 16,000 troops, the help of the German air force and most of their weapons “Volunteers" from Italy went to fight with Mussolini’s approval and many of these volunteers had a military background.

The Spanish Civil War Why did the Republicans lose?

Why the Republicans Lost No military training The Republicans relied on real volunteers that held idealistic beliefs but had minimal military training. No international support The neutrality of Britain and France denied aid to the Republican Government, giving an advantage to the Nationalists. Lack of arms and materials

Why the Republicans Lost Lack of Political Coherence Republican forces were divided over what they were fighting for. The Republican factions turned against each other when the Soviet Union stopped supporting the Republican cause. With the Republicans split, the Nationalists started gaining control over more territory. Crucial factor in the ultimate defeat of the Republic.