The Spanish Civil War 1936 1939 The Spanish

The Spanish Civil War 1936 -1939

The Spanish Civil War • The two sides were: – The Nationalists (a loose coalition of right wing groups, including Army high command, the Church, the landowners, monarchists, and the Falange (fascist party) – The Republicans (looser coalition or left wing groups, including socialists, trade unionists, communists, anarchists and moderate liberals)

The Spanish Civil War • Objectives: • The Nationalists – sought to preserve Spain’s integrity, while • Republicans – wished to preserve the Second Republic

The Causes of the War • Profound cause: long period of decline since the great days of he Spanish Empire • Spain had made little progress, lost her empire, and fallen behind in the industrialization process • Deep division in Spanish society – Landowners vs. Peasants

The Causes of the War • Church vs. Anti-Clerical movements: • The Church had enormous power in Spain and was opposed to social reform, this led to groups that sought to reduce the Church’s influence

The Causes of the War • Conservatives vs. Liberals • There was a lack of a political middle, and extremists elements were increasingly popular • Massive divisions between countryside and towns

The Causes of the War • The Spanish army had a tradition of interfering in politics • Long standing tradition of violence in Spanish politics, and democracy had never really been established (therefore parties tried to reserve election results through violence)

The Causes of the War • ‘Democracy’ in Spain had brought about corrupt Governments and undermined the concept of democracy -- there was electoral fraud and continuing landlord control under Spanish ‘democracy’

The Causes of the War • There was a desire for autonomy in several regions of Spain. Conservatives saw this as a threat to Spain • Anarchism was a powerful force in Spain • Army concern at the possibility of a communist takeover

The Causes of the War • The weakness of the Government of the Second Republic (1930 -1936), its failure to carry out reforms, and to act against those that were plotting against the Republic • It also failed to maintain law and order • The assassination of the right wing leader Calvo Sotelo in July 1936

The Main Characteristics of the Spanish Civil War • The conflict was extremely brutal • There was widespread foreign intervention (due to the conflict -- seen as a struggle between right and left) • Nationalists received support from Germany and Italy • Republicans obtained aid from USSR and occasionally from France, as well as foreign volunteers and the International Brigades

The Main Characteristics of the Spanish Civil War • It has been characterized as an ideological war • The loose coalitions developed into strongly idealistic as excesses polarized opinion • The war was never clear cut • Only the ideological divide between foreign supporters was clear – USSR vs. Germany & Italy

The Main Characteristics of the Spanish Civil War • • It was seen as a ‘curtain raiser’ for WWII First major use of air power Bombing of civilian targets Formations of armored vehicles (to predict Hitler’s Blitzkrieg) • It is claimed that it was a war between professional soldiers and armed workers (although gradually order and discipline was instituted amongst the Republicans

The Main Characteristics of the Spanish Civil War • This war saw the use of propaganda to overcome resistance and terrify population • It brought profound social changes in its wake (especially in Republican held areas)

The Effects of the War • Tremendous loss if life (executions continued after the victory of the nationalists) • Material losses were great (this was important since Spain had been backward before the war already -- the Republicans sent all the gold reserves to the USSR for safekeeping

The Effects of the War • Franco’s regime marked the end of democracy for the next 40 years • Agriculture remained backward and the landowners in control • The Church became more powerful (in return for support for Franco’s regime)

The Effects of the War • Regionalism was suppressed, and the state highly centralized • Censorship was introduced • No attempts at reconciliation, reconstruction • Cultural life suffered due to the authoritarianism of Franco • High degree of state control led to corruption

The Effects of the War • Franco’s foreign supporters wanted compensation • Franco had to provide Germany with much needed resources • Spain became diplomatically isolated

The Reasons for the Nationalist Victory • The reality of the Corporate State was the Fascists sides with employers and this system did little to represent the interests of the workers • This system was effectively only a disguise for exploitation of labour

The Reasons for the Nationalist Victory • Propaganda was used to claim successes, but remained propaganda • Successes included improvements in public transport, success in the campaign against the Mafia… • The one major success was the ending of the conflict between State and Church (the establishment of the Vatican as an independent state)