Spanish Civil War: Radicalization, Riots, and Coup

The Radicalization of Left Parties

This led to the radicalization of the left parties.

The Riots of 1934

In 1934, there was a government reshuffle that gave input to ministers of CEDA. This caused the outbreak of riots throughout Spain. In Catalonia, the situation was quite different because the general government was in the hands of a leftist coalition that did not view the process initiated by the Lerroux government favorably. A first confrontation occurred when the courts in Madrid had to cancel the Contract Law of the crop. The decisive confrontation took place in October 1934 when President Companys led a revolt and proclaimed the Catalan State within the Spanish Republic. In Asturias, the revolt had a more social character.

Popular Front (1936)

The center-left forces were presented, grouped in the Popular Front (in Catalonia called Left Front). Rightist parties in Catalonia reacted with the creation of the Catalan Front of Order led by the Catalan League. The right was divided between the National Block, CEDA, and Falange. In May, Manuel Azaña was appointed president, and Santiago Casares Quiroga became head of government.

Preparation of the Coup d'État

Tensions sparked a social climate of violence that culminated in the assassination of MP Calvo Sotelo. This situation was the pretext from which the forces against the Republic decided that the time had come to interrupt the reforming process by force.

Outbreak of the Civil War

Military Uprising

On 17 July 1936 and 18 July, an important sector of the army, which joined Falangists and traditionalists, staged a coup d'état. The rebels took control of the governing bodies of some cities and formed a board of senior military officers. Faced with the popular outcry against the rebels, the new government under José Giral decided to give arms to the militias.

Failed Coup in Spain

General Goded led the uprising in Catalonia, which had little public support. The army, Civil Guard, and Assault Guard mostly remained loyal to the Republic.

Internationalizing the Conflict

The war in Spain was seen as a confrontation between democratic and partly revolutionary forces and fascist regimes.