Topic 2 Flashcards
Who led the Nationalists at the start of the war?
Franco, Gil-Robles
Who led the Republicans at the start of the war?
Azana, Casares, Barrio, Giral
What was the Nationalists military strengths?
- gvt has support from CEDA, Falange, carlists
- there were different people following different ideologies which don’t go well together
- e.g. Carlists sought the restoration of the monarchy, not creation of dictatorship
- in 1936 militia was put under Franco’s military- easily controlled
What was the Republicans military strengths?
- militia units: 150,000
- made of volunteers
- many rejected hierarchical organisation and formal discipline (especially with radical anarchist militias)
- there were different people following different ideologies which don’t go well together
What was the Nationalists geographical divisions?
- control of North-west
- not included Basque Regions and Asturias
- land in their zone was agricultural- produced food for market
What was the Republicans geographical strength?
- control of south-east
- including Madrid, Barcelona, Basque Region, Asturias
- they possessed most of Spain’s industries and raw materials and the places with biggest population
What was situation at the end of August?
- after 6 weeks it looked promising for Republicans
- Nationalist forces at disadvantage: forces 1/3 smaller
- Civil Guard and Assault Guard supported republic
- although Army of Africa supported Nationalists it took them a while to reach mainland Spain
What was the International Brigade?
- volunteers who travelled to Spain
- supported Republicans
- approx. 35,000 people
- from France, Britain, US
- joined to stop spread of facism
- not trained
What international support did Nationalist get?
- Germany, Italy
- Franco bought from Germany: rifles, grenades, bullets
- Mussolini supplied large number of Italian soldiers
- Italy supplied: aircraft, bombs, artillary
What international support did Republicans get?
- Britain, France
- British gvt. worried that involvement in Spanish affairs would result in wider European War
- France not willing to support unless Britain did aswell
- Britain and France and 27 countries signed non-intervention pact
What was the Non-intervention pact?
- French hoped Germany and Italy would honour agrement and refuse to supply Nationalists
- in practice the policy favoured Nationalists
- Britain and France honoured agreement and sent aid to bot sides
- Germany and France only sent aid to Franco
When was the Airlift?
29th July 1936
What happened at the Airlift?
- aircraft began to carry Army of Africa from Morocco to Spain
- performed by Germans in support of Nationalists
When was the Siege of Alcazar?
September 1936
What happened at the Siege of Alcazar?
- nationalists won
- symbol of nationalist determination and courage at start of war
When was the Nationalists end assault on Madrid?
October- December 1936
What happened when the Nationalists ended assault on Madrid?
- nationalists won
- Nationalists began heavy artillery and aerial bombardment on Madrid
- International Brigade halted Nationalists advance
When was the Battle of Jarama?
6th- 27th February 1937
What happened in the Battle of Jarama?
- Republicans won
- attempt by Franco’s Nationalists to dislodge the Republican lines across the river Jarama
- East of Madrid
When was the Fall of Malaga?
February 1937
What happened in the Fall of Malaga?
- Malaga surrounded on 3 sides- vulnerable
- city was isolated
- Italian advance: 10,000 troops- successful
When was Guernica?
April 1937
What happened in Guernica?
- German air force attack
- limited strategic significance
- occupied one of main routes to North
- horrified Republicans in Spain and world
- symbolised cruelty of facist military tactics
When was Brunete?
July 1937
What happened at Brunete?
- Republicans launch first major offensive
- help to relive Madrid by breaking part of Nationalists siege and cut off one of their major supply routes to North
When was the Ebro Offensive?
November 1938
What happened in the Ebro Offensive?
- strategic aim was to force Nationalists troops to divert their troops North
- gvt. knew it wouldn’t be enough to win- PM focused on prolonging war
When was the Fall of Barcelona?
February 1939
What happened at the Fall of Barcelona?
- 2 million people isolated- cut off from Republican Spain, food shortages
When was the Fall of Madrid?
February- March 1939
What happened at the Fall of Madrid?
- Nationalists win
- Azana resigned and West went into exile
- on 27th March Nationalist groups occupied Madrid
- Franco had Spain
What was life like in Republican zones: Madrid
- Run by Popular Front
- frequent bombing raids- caused food shortages
- industries, factories, emplyment brought under gvt control
What was life like in Republican zone: Catalonia
- CNT took control
- drastic economic change
- visible signs of previous leaders removed
- churches were destroyed or made into hospitals
Atrocities in Republican zone
- industrialists were targeted
- landowners murdered
- 6,000 monks, priests and nuns killed
Atrocities in Republican zone: who was targeted?
- Falangists
- Priests
- Landlords
- Supporters of CEDA
Atrocities in Nationalists zone
- removal of of political enemies and threats
- Franco supported killings of trade unionists, socialists, communists
Atrocities in Nationalists zone: What happened in Badajoz Massacre?
- August 1936
- shooting
- 500- 4,000 civilian and military supporters killed
- bodies left in towns
- use of fear and propaganda to exert control
Life in Nationalist zone
- rebel army declared martial law on all areas under nationalist control
- martial law: military seizes control of area
- Franco gave power back to wealthy landowners
- all opposing political parties banned as well as trade unions and striking
- Nationalists restored power of church- especially in education
