Spanish Civil War: Causes, Timeline & Consequences (1936-39)

The Spanish Civil War (1936-1939)

Causes of the Spanish Civil War

The causes of the war are interpreted differently depending on perspective. Manuel Azaña himself wrote about the issue. According to the Nationalist bloc, causes included:

• The perceived anarchy of 1936 and the actions of the Republican-Socialist government.
• Insults directed at the army and the perceived persecution of the Church, threatening major institutions.
• Radicalism in the Cortes (parliament), evident in mutual accusations between members.
• Street violence involving youth from Socialist, Falangist, and Communist groups.
• Threats to national unity posed by radical regional nationalist groups.
• A desire to prevent the establishment of a Soviet-style socialist republic.

The Popular Front viewed the uprising as unjustifiable and illegal, being an action against a democratically legitimate government.

The Two Fronts and Foreign Aid

The Nationalist side was supported by Hitler's Germany (paid with minerals and fuel), Mussolini's Italy (provided aid, often presented as selfless), and Portugal, which sent a battalion known as the 'Viriatos'.

The Republican side received aid from Stalin's USSR, paid for with gold reserves from the Bank of Spain. Most of the air force and navy remained under Republican government control.

Both sides received help from international volunteers. The Popular Front received significant support, with approximately 60,000 volunteers of socialist, communist, or anarchist ideologies (the International Brigades). Most other countries signed a Non-Intervention Agreement, influenced by the tense European situation in 1936 marked by rivalry between Fascist powers (Germany, Italy) and the Communist USSR.

Timeline of the Spanish Civil War

1936: The Uprising and Madrid Front

Spain was divided into Republican and Nationalist zones when Franco, Captain General of the Canary Islands, initiated the uprising. On the night of July 18th, troops crossed the Strait of Gibraltar, aided by German transport, while Queipo de Llano secured Andalusia. The Nationalists aimed to occupy Madrid but faced strong Republican resistance in Córdoba, Badajoz, and Toledo. They failed to capture Madrid after the battles of Jarama and Guadalajara. The Republican government fled to Valencia, leaving the defense of the capital under General José Miaja.

1937: The Northern Campaign

Franco abandoned the immediate goal of taking Madrid and shifted focus to the north to secure industrial resources, occupying Asturias, Cantabria, and the Basque Country. This campaign included the bombing of the symbolic city of Guernica by the German Condor Legion to facilitate the conquest.

1938: Division and the Ebro Battle

The Nationalists aimed to occupy the Levante region, while Republican resistance focused on Teruel. Franco's troops occupied the Maestrazgo region, splitting the remaining Republican zone in two. From the summer onwards, fierce fighting occurred for control of the Ebro River in a bloody battle ultimately won by the Nationalists. The Republican government (President Azaña, Prime Minister Negrín) and many supporters began fleeing abroad.

1939: Republican Collapse

Nationalist forces invaded Catalonia, capturing Gerona and Barcelona in January 1939. The Republican government proposed a pact, but Franco refused, demanding unconditional surrender. Nationalist forces continued the occupation of the Levant and finally entered Madrid and the Castilla region, despite Miaja's attempts to negotiate. On April 1, 1939, Franco declared the war over.

Consequences of the Spanish Civil War

The consequences were devastating for all involved. Significant repression occurred in zones controlled by both belligerents:

• Republican Zone Repression: Carried out often by uncontrolled militias (paseos - summary executions, checas - unofficial prisons) against suspected Nationalist sympathizers, clergy, and political opponents. Notable incidents include killings in Madrid and Paracuellos del Jarama, and the execution of Falangist leader José Antonio Primo de Rivera. Estimated victims: around 50,000.
• Nationalist Zone Repression: Systematic repression carried out by the army and authorities, particularly severe in areas like Seville and Badajoz (e.g., Badajoz massacre). Notable victims include the poet Federico García Lorca in Granada. Estimated victims during the war: around 78,000, with an additional estimated 40,000 executed post-war (including figures like Lluís Companys and Julián Besteiro).
• Refugees and Exiles: Many civilians initially fled towards Republican-held Catalonia and Levante. Following the fall of Catalonia, over 400,000 people crossed into France (La Retirada). Many were interned in camps; some later joined the French Resistance or Allied forces, while others were deported to Nazi concentration camps. A significant group, including members of the Republican government and prominent cultural and scientific figures, went into exile in Latin America (approx. 5,000 officially to Mexico alone). Additionally, around 3,000 Spanish children (Niños de Rusia) were evacuated to the USSR.

The demographic impact included:

• Approximately 400,000 refugees initially fled, with about half eventually returning.
• Estimated 500,000 - 650,000 deaths (combatants and civilians, including repression and war-related famine/disease).
• Widespread material destruction and economic disruption.