Spanish Civil War 1936-1939

In July 1936, a right-wing army revolt against Spain’s left-wing Republican government sparked a civil war. The conflict quickly drew in foreign powers and became a testing ground for brutal modern warfare that would shape the 20th century

COMBATANTS
REPUBLICANS

Government, led by Socialist premiers Largo Caballero and Juan Negrín, and liberal president Manuel Azaña (left)

Supported by urban workers, majority of educated middle class, and militant communists and anarchists

FOREIGN AID
Due to arms embargo by France and Britain, government couldreceive aid and purchase arms only from Soviet Union. Aid included planes, trained pilots, tanks and crew

Soviet T-26

International Brigades
Up to 60,000 volunteers from 50 countries fought in Spain against Fascism, including U.S. Abraham Lincoln Brigade

Prominent intellectuals on Republican side included American novelist Ernest Hemingway, British author George Orwell (right), and French writer André Malraux

NATIONALISTS
Led by rebel army of General Francisco Franco (right) and supported by conservative clergy, landowners and fascist Falange

FOREIGN AID: Both Fascist Italy under Benito Mussolini and Nazi Germany under Adolf Hitler sent troops, tanks and planes

German Junker 52/3

Guernica, Apr 26, 1937: First town in history to be destroyed by aerial bombing, attacked by Germany’s Condor Legion

FRANCE
SPAIN
PORTUGAL
Cartagena
Murcia
Albacete
Almeria
Alicante
Valencia
Castellon
Gijon
Oviedo
Santander
Salamanca
Badajoz
Valladolid
Pamplona
Granada
Barcelona
Toledo
Sevilla
Malaga
Cordoba
La Coruña
Bilbao
Zaragoza
Vigo
Tetuan
Brunete
Teruel
Ebro
Jarama
Guadalajara
100km
60 miles
Airlift of Franco’s army
CATALONIA
SPANISH MOROCCO (1912-1956)
BALEARIC ISLANDS
Madrid
Area conquered by Nationalists
Main bombings of civilians
Aug 1936-Oct 1937
July 1936
1938
Jan-Feb 1939
Main Nationalist offensives
Main battles


KEY EVENTS

1931: Second Spanish Republic proclaimed. Alfonso XIII abdicates

1936, Feb: Left-wing party coalition regains power from right in elections

Jul 17-18: Army uprising – rebels gain control over about one third of Spain

Jul 28: Italian and German planes airlift Franco’s army from Spanish Morocco to mainland in first significant military airlift in history

Nov: Republican forces withstand major Nationalist offensive on Madrid following arrival of aid from Soviet Union and International Brigades

1937, Jan-Mar: Despite support from Italian troops, Franco fails to capture Madrid in two separate offensives

Apr: Guernica destroyed

May: Infighting among Republican groups in Barcelona weakens city

Jun: Bilbao falls to Nationalists

Jul: Nationalists repulse Republican counter-offensive at Brunete

Oct: Gijon falls – war in North ends

1938, Feb-Apr: After battle for Teruel, Nationalists reach Mediterranean, cutting Republican zone in two

Jul-Nov: Battle of Ebro – Republican forces launch all-out, but unsuccessful, campaign to reconnect territory

Mar 27: Madrid falls to Nationalists1939, Jan-Feb: Nationalists conquer Catalonia in whirlwind campaign

Apr 1: Nationalist victory proclaimed

Casualties: ~500,000

Pictures: Getty Images, Newscom
Sources: Encyclopedia Britannica, Imperial War Museum, The Spanish Civil War by Paul Preston
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