Practices of the
Spanish Civil War
Causes, practices and effects of wars
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Political disunity
Military problems
Economic problems
Foreign assistance
Republican Weaknesses
• General Franco is able to lift 24,000 experienced troops
from Army of Africa to Spain to help with the revolution.
• Franco uses policy of terror
• General Mola helps Franco take land in the North
• Why would Hitler (Nazi Germany) want to help
Franco?
Hitler connection
• Loyalists- supported the regime of 1936
(socialists/communists)
• Nationalists- supported the rebels (church, army, wealthy
landowners)
• Basques and Catalans supported the loyalists because
they promised them autonomy
The sides
Republic (loyalists)
Nationalists
• Controlled major cities
• Controlled key industrial
areas
• Gold reserves
• Air force and navy
• Church
The Republic had the advantages, why did
they lose?
Political Disunity
• Sept. 1936 Caballero head of coalition government, but
government is divided
• Communists and socialists believed the revolution should
stop and they should fight the war; anarchists believe
only can win if they keep revolutionary tactics.
• Analyze the differences between the tactics desired by
these groups.
Republican (loyalists)
weaknesses
Communists became very popular- membership grew
40,000 to 400,000 in one year. They have foreign supportUSSR. They want to restore the Second Republic.
They use terror tactics that make people sympathize with
the enemy.
Political disunity
• Barcelona- 4 days of street fighting
• Communists/socialists v. anarchists and POUM
(Catalan Marxists party, critical of Soviets, opposed
comm/soc)
• Caballero replaced by Marxist Juan Negrin- communists
chose him to lead
• Negrin attacked the POUM and anarchist leadersimprisoned or executed. His authoritarian regime stays
until 1939
May Days- May 1937
• How does political disunity lead to a weakened
Republican government?
Political disunity
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Lacked strong military leadership
Communists and anarchists would not work together
Even loyal army officials were not trusted
They fought a series of local conflicts rather than an
overall war campaign
• Many battlefields not accessible by the air force
• How does this hurt the Republic (loyalists)?
Military Problems
• Anarchists took over all industries, public utilities and
transports in their areas.
• In the countryside, collectives were set up
• Because of this, production fell by 2/3 between 1936-39
• Republic had food and supply shortages
• Inflation reached 300% and wages only increased 15%
Economic Problems
• Britain and France gave NO credit to the Republic
• USSR only country that would trade
• Republic spent most of gold reserve to trade
• What could have been done differently to improve the
situation economically?
Economic problems
• USSR- aircraft and tanks, but no troops.
• Had to pay USSR for help (this drains gold reserve)
• International Brigades- 35,000 foreign volunteers fought
in Spain. Helped in Madrid.
• 1938 Soviets withdraw Brigades
• Britain and France- policy of non-intervention
• How does this effect the outcome of the war?
Foreign Assistancecritical