Transcript spanish civil war


Between 1936 and 1939 over 500,000
people were killed in the Spanish Civil
War.
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In 1920, Spain was a constitutional
monarchy. The king was Alfonso XIII

However, the government was inefficient
and corrupt. In 1921, an army was sent to
Spanish Morocco to put down a
rebellion. It was massacred but this
defeat seemed to emphasize just how
corrupt and incompetent Spain’s
leadership was.

In 1923, Spain experienced a bloodless
coup when Alfonso agreed that General
Primo de Rivera should take control of
Spain. He ruled as a military dictator until
1930. Rivera’s approach to leadership
was fully supported by Alfonso.
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However, the Great Depression of the
1930’s hit Spain hard. Unemployment
rose and Rivera did not have the ability
to sort out Spain’s financial mess. The
army withdrew its support and Rivera
had to resign. In April 1931, elections in
Spain which resulted in republicans
winning all the major cities in Spain.
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Those victorious at the election then
declared Spain a republic and
monarchy was abolished.
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Urban workers, most landless peasants, much of
the educated middle class, all the left-wing
political groups and socialist and anarchist
Trade Unions
They were particularly strong in industrial regions
such as Asturias and Cataluña.
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The majority of Catholic clergy and practicing
Catholics (outside of the Basque region), most of the
large landowners, many businessmen, carlists,
monarchists, centralists (those opposed to regional
autonomies) and fascists
They kept the best trained part of the Army, that is,
the Army of Morocco, and many important officials.
Portugal,
Germany and
Italy helped the
Nationalists.
 The democratic
countries
decided not to
get involved
(Non
Intervention)

The Soviet Union and
Mexico helped the
Republicans
 The International
Brigades and
American Volunteers
went to Spain to
protect the Popular
Front government.
They were always led
by Communists.
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On 19th July, 1936, General Francisco Franco
assumed command of the Nationalist forces.
In 1936, October, Franco was named
Generalísimo de los Ejércitos and Head of
the State of the National area.

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After the failed attempt to conquer Madrid,
Franco decided to finish the Republican North
defence.
In April the German Condor Legion bombed the
town of Guernika in the Basque Country, causing
hundreds of casualties.

In the anarchistcontrolled areas,
Aragon and Catalonia,
workers and peasants
collectivized land and
industry, and set up
councils parallel to the
Republican
government. This
revolution was opposed
by both the Sovietsupported communists,
and Social Democratic
Republicans.

As the war progressed, Anarchists and the
POUM (Partido Obrero de Unificación Marxista)
were integrated with the regular army, but in
May 1937 anarchists and communists engaged
each other in violent street battles in the city of
Barcelona.
At the end
of March,
1939, the
Nationalists
entered
Madrid.
The war
was
finished.

After the end of the War, there were brutal reprisals
against Franco's leftist former enemies. Thousands
of Republicans were imprisoned and executed.
Many other
Republicans
fled abroad,
especially to
France and
Mexico.