Spanish Civil War: Outbreak and Formation of Sides

The Spanish Civil War: Origins and Factions

1. The Outbreak of War: From Coup to Civil Conflict

The conservative opposition to the political democratization and social reforms of the Second Republic led to a coup attempt.

On July 17, 1936, an uprising occurred in the military garrison at Melilla, led by Colonel Yagüe, against the Republic. Franco, leading the Army of Africa, arrived on the Peninsula on the 18th. Between July 18 and 19, the uprising spread to numerous cities across Spain. The government was slow to react, and soon the rebels had established strongholds in Pamplona, Seville, Old Castile, Galicia, and parts of Aragon, including Zaragoza.

On July 19, Casares Quiroga was replaced as Prime Minister by José Giral, who decided to arm the militias of the unions and the Popular Front.

The success or failure of the uprising largely depended on the social and political conditions of each region. It failed in areas where labor and leftist forces were predominant. Furthermore, the Republic managed to retain control of major cities: Madrid, Barcelona, and Valencia.

The rebels had planned to seize the organs of government in a quick operation, but the failure of the military coup led to the division into two camps that would face each other in a Civil War.

2. The Consolidation of the Sides

The rebel side was composed of:

• Military conservatives
• Monarchists
• Catholics
• Falangists
• Carlists
• All those opposed to the Republic

They defined themselves as "National," but among them, there was no unanimity on the post-coup direction: establishing a military dictatorship, restoring the monarchy (CEDA), or pursuing a fascist solution.

Those loyal to the Republic, defenders of republican legitimacy, included trade unions, political parties, and social reform movements that supported the Popular Front. They consisted of the most popular classes:

• Workers
• The petty bourgeoisie
• Landless peasants

These were joined by large groups of intellectuals and artists. Here too, different interests existed; the more extreme groups sought to transform the country through social revolution.