1. The Spanish Civil War

2. The Spanish Civil War The two sides were:
The Nationalists (a loose coalition of right wing groups, including Army high command, the Church, the landowners, monarchists, and the Falange (fascist party)
The Republicans (looser coalition or left wing groups, including socialists, trade unionists, communists, anarchists and moderate liberals)

3. The Spanish Civil War Objectives: The Nationalists Republicans
sought to preserve Spain’s integrity, while
Republicans
wished to preserve the Second Republic

4. The Causes of the War
Profound cause: long period of decline since the great days of he Spanish Empire
Spain had made little progress, lost her empire, and fallen behind in the industrialization process
Deep division in Spanish society
Landowners vs. Peasants

5. The Causes of the War Church vs. Anti-Clerical movements:
The Church had enormous power in Spain and was opposed to social reform, this led to groups that sought to reduce the Church’s influence

6. The Causes of the War Conservatives vs. Liberals
There was a lack of a political middle, and extremists elements were increasingly popular
Massive divisions between countryside and towns

7. The Causes of the War
The Spanish army had a tradition of interfering in politics
Long standing tradition of violence in Spanish politics, and democracy had never really been established (therefore parties tried to reserve election results through violence)

8. The Causes of the War
‘Democracy’ in Spain had brought about corrupt Governments and undermined the concept of democracy -- there was electoral fraud and continuing landlord control under Spanish ‘democracy’

9. The Causes of the War
There was a desire for autonomy in several regions of Spain. Conservatives saw this as a threat to Spain
Anarchism was a powerful force in Spain
Army concern at the possibility of a communist takeover

10. The Causes of the War
The weakness of the Government of the Second Republic ( ), its failure to carry out reforms, and to act against those that were plotting against the Republic
It also failed to maintain law and order
The assassination of the right wing leader Calvo Sotelo in July 1936

11. The Main Characteristics of the Spanish Civil War
The conflict was extremely brutal
There was widespread foreign intervention (due to the conflict -- seen as a struggle between right and left)
Nationalists received support from Germany and Italy
Republicans obtained aid from USSR and occasionally from France, as well as foreign volunteers and the International Brigades

12. The Main Characteristics of the Spanish Civil War
It has been characterized as an ideological war
The loose coalitions developed into strongly idealistic as excesses polarized opinion
The war was never clear cut
Only the ideological divide between foreign supporters was clear
USSR vs. Germany & Italy

13. The Main Characteristics of the Spanish Civil War
It was seen as a ‘curtain raiser’ for WWII
First major use of air power
Bombing of civilian targets
Formations of armored vehicles (to predict Hitler’s Blitzkrieg)
It is claimed that it was a war between professional soldiers and armed workers (although gradually order and discipline was instituted amongst the Republicans

14. The Main Characteristics of the Spanish Civil War
This war saw the use of propaganda to overcome resistance and terrify population
It brought profound social changes in its wake (especially in Republican held areas)

15. The Effects of the War
Tremendous loss if life (executions continued after the victory of the nationalists)
Material losses were great (this was important since Spain had been backward before the war already -- the Republicans sent all the gold reserves to the USSR for safekeeping

16. The Effects of the War
Franco’s regime marked the end of democracy for the next 40 years
Agriculture remained backward and the landowners in control
The Church became more powerful (in return for support for Franco’s regime)

17. The Effects of the War
Regionalism was suppressed, and the state highly centralized
Censorship was introduced
No attempts at reconciliation, reconstruction
Cultural life suffered due to the authoritarianism of Franco
High degree of state control led to corruption

18. The Effects of the War Franco’s foreign supporters wanted compensation
Franco had to provide Germany with much needed resources
Spain became diplomatically isolated

19. The Reasons for the Nationalist Victory
The reality of the Corporate State was the Fascists sides with employers and this system did little to represent the interests of the workers
This system was effectively only a disguise for exploitation of labour

20. The Reasons for the Nationalist Victory
Propaganda was used to claim successes, but remained propaganda
Successes included improvements in public transport, success in the campaign against the Mafia…
The one major success was the ending of the conflict between State and Church (the establishment of the Vatican as an independent state)