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Popular Front Government Elected
The Popular Front, founded by Manuel Azana, formed a coalition of left-wing parties. It advocated Catalan autonomy, agricultural reform, and amnesty for political prisonors. Right-wing parties created the National Front. The Popular Front won the next election and began introducing legislation against the aims of the National Front. Examples include banning the Falange Party and relocating right-wing military members (like Franco) to positions out of Spain. Such efforts resolted in the revolt. -
Army Rising, Franco's forces are airlifted from Morocco to southern Spain
At this time Spain possessed two primary military groups, these being the Army of Africa and the Peninsular Army. The Army of Africa contained Moroccan-based units that, while smaller than those of the Peninsular Army, were often better trained. On the 19th, Francisco Franco took control of the Army of Africa and had troops airlifted to Spain, often through the use of German-owned aircraft. -
Britain and France begin policy of Non-Intervention
At the beginning of conflict in Spain, the prime minister of France's Popular Front, Leon Blum, agreed to send assistance to the Republicans. He drew back on this when faced with pressure from his government and the U.K. After, Britain and France called for European countries to not intervene in the war. Twenty-seven countries signed the Non-Intervention Agreement. However, Germany and Italy later assisted the Nationalists and the Soviet Union the Republicans. -
Largo Caballero forms new Republican government
The President of the Popular Front, Azana, appointed socialist Largo Caballero as prime minister and war minister. Caballero introduced many other left-wing officials including radicals, socialists, anarchists, and communists. He subsided aims of social revolution in favor of winning the emerging civil war. This, along with other changes such as conscription and the abolition of workers' councils, agitated the left wing. -
Soviet intervention begins; German and Italian planes bomb Madrid
Despite signing the Non-Intervention Agreement, Germany, Italy, and the Soviet Union offered assistance. Mussolini and Hitler gave aid through aircraft, bombs, vehicles, and other supplies. Hitler created the Condor Legion, a collection of plane squadrons to assit the Nationalists. Stalin became worried at the prospect of a fascist regime in Spain and encouraged the formation of International Brigades that would support the Republicans. He also sent advisors to the Popular Front government. -
Nationalist offensive to cut the connection between Madrid and Valencia fails at the Battle of Jarama.
The battle of Jarama was an attempt by Franco to cut off Madrid from portions of Republican Spain. As the battle progressed, both sides suffered heavy casualities. International Brigades fought alongside the Republicans and too experienced large losses. Russian tanks and planes played a crucial role in the Republicans' victory. General Franco set aside the goal to enter Madrid via Jarama and soon the area lost strategic importance. -
Nationalist offensive to tighten the pressure on Madrid from the north fails at the battle of Guadalajara.
The battle of Guadalajara was again another loss for the Nationalists as they attempted to take Madrid. This time, the Nationalists forces were primarily made of Italian volunteer troops. The initial Italian offensive failed, even after being backed by Nationalists troops. Republican counterattacks were successful, marking a large defeat for the Italian army and the Nationalists. Again, Soviet equipment was vital to Republican success. -
Franco unites Carlists, fascists, and monarchists into one movement
In April, General Francisco Franco unified the Falange party, the Carlists, fascists, monarchists, and other right-wing organizations into one, unified party. Franco could now serve as the sole leader of the party and of all military factions. His dictatorship served as a point of strength against the Republicans - unlike the Popular Front's often disorganized troops and strategy, Franco could easily organize his military. This was one of the traits that led to victory for the Nationalists. -
German Condor Legion bombs and destroys Guernica
On the 26th of April, a combined force of the German Condor Legion and the Italian Legionary Air Force bombed Guernica at the orders of the Nationalists. The town consisted primarily of civilians who had no involvement in the war. The bombing was made famous by Picasso's anti-war painting, Guernica, which depicts the terror of the event. -
May Riots ravage Barcelona; Juan Negrin forms new government after fall of Largo Caballero
The May Riots occured when groups within the Republicans fought each other. The main conflict was between the state and government of Catalonia against anarchists and communists. Various events occured during the riots, such as the assassination of anarchists and arrests of prominent participators, that damaged Caballero's government in the eyes of the public. President Azana ousted Caballero and replaced him with Negrin. who began to form his own version of government. -
Fall of Bilbao to the Nationalists; end of Basque independence
The autonomous Basque country was created by the Republican government in order to guarantee Basque Nationalist support for the Republicans. Portions of this area also served as an important part of Republican-held land in the north. Bilbao, the capital of the Bilbay province of the Basque region, served as an important point of conquest for the Nationalists. After capturing the city and remaining portions of the Basque area, the initiative to seperate Reublican territory in two could commence. -
Republican offensives to break the siege of Madrid fails at the battles of Brunete and Belchite
The battles of Brunete and Belchite were attempts by the Republicans to decrease the stress placed on Madrid and areas in the north. The battle of Brunete was initially successful for the Republicans, but they were forced to retreat in the face of massive causalities. The battle of Belchite was in Aragon in August. It began as a Republican offensive to relieve pressure on troops in the north, but failed. Both battles signified the decline of the Republicans and takeover of the north by Franco. -
Nationalists capture rest of northern Spain
Up to this point, Catalonia and other areas in northern and central Spain had served as strongholds for the Republicans and International Brigades. During the months of September and October of 1937, General Franco's Nationalists succeed in eliminating Republican control in the northern areas. This essentially pushed the last months of the war into central Spain and the capital, Madrid. President Azana, Negrin, and the Republican government begin to falter. -
Republican Popular Army captures Teruel in central Spain; Nationalists later takeover the city
The Popular Army, aware that the Nationalists would attempt counter attacks, sought to strengthen Teruel after its capture. International Brigades were moved from Madrid to Teruel in order to safeguard it. This proved difficult in the face of a harsh winter. As the Nationalists attacked Teruel, the city recieved heavy bombardment. The Nationalists took the city with around one hundred thosand causalities. The battle marked the military turning point of the war in favor of General Franco. -
Nationalists reach the Mediterranean at Vinaros; Republican Spain cut in two
Now, a large portions if the Republican government's strength lies in protecting Madrid. The war has turned into one of attrition as both sides attempt to weaken the other. After capturing Teruel, the Nationalists moved eastward toward Vinaros. From there, General Franco captured Republican land on the Mediterranean and split their republic in two, weakening the Republican forces. Shortly after these events the primary officials of the Republican government fled the country to France in exile. -
Republican offensive of the river Ebro fails
The battle on the river Ebro was the longest of the war, lasting in the months of July to November. It was also the largest as forces of the Republicans and Nationalists clustered on the river and areas of Catalonia and Aragon. This battle marked one of the final attempts of the Republicans to halt the Nationalist offensive to Madrid. The battle ensured massive causalities and damage but did little to stop the movement of the Nationalists. -
Barcelona falls to the Nationalists
In later 1938 and the beginning of 1939, General Francisco Franco began a large offensive against Catalonia and the territories of the Republic therein. The capture of Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia, allowed the Nationalists a significant gain in defeating the remaining remnants of Catalonia and crushing the Republican army. As the Republicans are close to defeat, General Franco makes way toward Madrid. -
Britain and France recognize Franco's government
First France, and shortly after Britain, recognized the legitimacy of Franco's government in Spain. Although the war has not officially ended, international countries and Spain itself have already decided the outcome. The U.S. also recognized Franco's position in April. Despite crimes comitted, Franco's government trumped the fears still associated with the communism and anarchism of the Popular Front. Such international acceptance assisted Franco's transition into power. -
Nationalists enter Madrid
The siege of Madrid had lasted from 1936 under protection of the Republicans. Throughout the war, various battles had attempted to usurp it. In the final battle for Madrid, the siege worsened and the population suffered from lack of supplies and bombing. As the Republican forces collapsed, the Republic offered a final peace treaty. Franco refused anything but an unconditional surrender. At the end of March, Madrid fell. In the aftermath hundreds of thosands of people were executed or imprisoned. -
Franco announces end of war
After the defeat of the Second Spanish Republic, General Franco had achieved the goal of revolt against the government of Spain. Thosands of Franco's enemies were either imprisoned or executed during this time; others fled the country. Franco attempted to bring Spain into its old glory. The new dictatorial state would combine the old system with new totalitarianism. Despite receiving essential support from Germany and Italy during the war, Franco declined to join the Axis powers during WWII.
