Spanish Civil War: A Deep Dive into 1931-1939
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The Second Republic of Spain (1931-1936)
The Second Spanish Republic was proclaimed in 1931 after the departure of King Alfonso XIII following municipal elections largely won by Republican candidates. The Republic represented a significant shift towards modernization and social reform, driven primarily by workers and leftist parties.
Key Events of the Second Republic:
- April 1931: The Second Republic is proclaimed, and Alfonso XIII goes into exile. (PSOE - Spanish Socialist Workers' Party)
- December 1931: The Republican Constitution is approved.
- November 1933: Right-wing parties win general elections. (CEDA - Spanish Confederation of Autonomous Right-wing Groups)
- February 1936: The Popular Front (a coalition of left-wing parties) wins the general elections.
The Opposing Sides in the Spanish Civil War
The Republican Side
The Republican side was supported by the democratic government of the Second Republic. It was a diverse coalition including the Popular Front, anarchists, Basque and Catalan nationalists, and workers. The Soviet Union provided support, and volunteers from various countries (including the United States, Great Britain, and France) formed the International Brigades to fight against Franco.
The Nationalist Side
The Nationalist side, led by General Francisco Franco, comprised political groups that supported the military coup of 1936 against the Second Republic. This faction included the conservative upper-middle class, the Church, landowners, and received support from the fascist governments of Italy and Germany. Franco would rule Spain as a dictator from 1939 to 1975.
Timeline of City Captures by the Nationalists:
- Iruñea (Pamplona): 1936
- Donostia (San Sebastián): September 1936
- Córdoba: 1936
- Durango: May 1937
- Santander: December 1937
- Alicante: Near the end of the war
- Madrid: Near the end of the war
Consequences of the Spanish Civil War
Social Consequences
Both sides committed atrocities during the war. The Nationalist side executed those connected to the left, while radical left-wing groups on the Republican side carried out atrocities against supporters of the rebellion. Brutal reprisals followed the war against the defeated.
| Republicans | Nationalists | |
|---|---|---|
| Killed in Action | 95,000 | 60,000 |
| Killed through Repression | 144,000 | 44,000 |
| Killed in Bombings | 12,000 | 1,088 |
| Killed by War Hardships (Hunger, Sickness) | 120,000 | 20,000 |
| People Disappeared | 114,000 | |
| Held in Prisons and Concentration Camps | 250,000 | |
| Exiled | 450,000 |
Economic Consequences
The war devastated Spain's economy. Approximately 10-15% of its wealth was destroyed, and per capita income in 1939 was 28% lower than in 1935.
Political Consequences
The political system transitioned into Franco's dictatorship. All of the Republic's reforms concerning the Church, social advances, and land reform were abolished.
The Spanish Civil War: A Broader Perspective
The Spanish Civil War deeply divided society. The failed coup d'état fractured the Army and the State. It was a class struggle between the old dominant groups, seeking to maintain privileges and a traditional state, and the new groups of bourgeoisie and workers, who sought modernization and a more just society. Many saw the conflict as a precursor to the broader European conflict, marked by cruelty and dehumanization.
Situation in the Basque Territories
At the beginning of the war, Gipuzkoa and Biscay sided with the Republicans, while Navarre and Álava sided with the Nationalists. The Basque Government, established in October 1936, controlled Álava, Gipuzkoa, and Biscay.