Spanish Civil War: Causes, Supporters, and Evolution

Causes:

• Root Causes:

  • Socio-economic imbalance
  • Privileged social groups opposed the Republicans' reforms
  • Workers' disillusionment at the slowness of Republican reforms
  • Tradition of army intervention

• Immediate Causes:

  • Political violence
  • Deterioration of public order
  • Coup led by Sanjurjo, Mola, Franco, Godet, Queipo de Llano

Supporters:

• In Favor of the Coup:
  • Anti-Republicans
  • Falangists
  • Monarchists
  • Landowners
  • Church
  • Part of the army
  • Traditionalists
• Against the Coup:
  • Part of the military
  • National Police
  • Assault Guard
  • Working class
  • Part of the middle class

International Intervention:

• France and UK remained neutral
• No intervention, no help
• Non-Intervention Committee
• USSR sent weapons and money to the Communist Party
• International Brigades to fight for democracy
• Germany and Italy supported the coup

Inner Organization:

• Republic:
  • Part wanted social revolution, part wanted to win the war
  • Constant international fights
  • Repression by church, bourgeoisie, and Popular Front
• Rebels:
  • Objective to defeat Republicans and implement dictatorship
  • Harsh repression, intimidation, arrests, imprisonment

Formed Forces:

• Republic:
  • Part of the army, militians, international brigades
• Rebels:
  • New trained army

Evolution:

• 1936: Troops from Africa joined the coup, Western regions followed
• 1937: Rebels advanced towards the north, industrial areas
• 1938: Rebels advanced towards the Mediterranean coast, Catalonia separated
• Battle of the Ebro was significant
• 1939: Catalonia taken, Madrid to follow, war ends on April 1st