The Quick Guide
to the Spanish Civil War

Groups and Factions

by Greg Novak

For a war that ended 55 years ago, passions on this conflict are as still as fresh as they were then. The most recent work I used while researching this conflict opens with a great statement of "facts," which the author points out are from a "respected" film on this war, almost all of which are half-truths and misstatements. On the other hand, during the anti-Red years of the 1950s and 1960s, the Spanish government went out of its way to tar those who fought in the war on the government side as "Communist," even though many were rabid opponents of that creed. What I write will not be accepted by all and many will disagree with my statements. One can agree to disagree. Enough editorializing---on to Madrid!

A QUICK GUIDE TO THE INVOLVED FORCES

In 1931 the monarchy was overthrown and a Spanish Republic proclaimed. From that point until 1936, the following groups vied for control in Spain to some degree or the other. In July 1936, the rebels took the title "Nationalist" as their proclaimed goal was to ensure the existence of Spain as a national state. The government forces, or Loyalists, adopted the title "Republicans" to emphasize the fact that their opponents were "fascist" in nature and that they represented the people. Organizations are listed by their acronyms (by which they were most often known), with their actual name, programs and other information following.

(These are the major players. Each major political party had its own youth organization and sub groups within it.)

Basques:

The Basque provinces had always viewed themselves as a semi-independent state, having as they did a separate language and culture from the rest of Spain. It was one of the most industrial areas of Spain, and its people were also major supporters of the Roman Catholic Church, as well as politically conservative. The Basques wished to regain what they felt were their lost rights. (One Basque political party called for its independence from Spain and its membership in the British Commonwealth.)

Carlist:

A very conservative party in the northern part of Spain which had been responsible for two civil wars in 19th century Spain. The Carlists believed that the true king of Spain should be picked from the descendents of Don Carlos and follow the Slavic Law (no female rulers allowed). They were opposed to having the descendents of Queen Isabella II there. The Carlists were strong supporters of the Catholic Church. The movement had a paramilitary force known as the Requetes.

CEDA: (Confederacion Espanola de Derechas Autonomous.)

Confederation of Spanish Political Parties of the right, with most of its strength in rural areas.

CNT: (Confederacion Naticional de Trabajo.)

An Anarchosyndicalist trade union, with most of its support in Catalonia.

Conintern: (Communist Internationalist.)

Not a Spanish political party, but the world communist organization controlled by Moscow at this time.

ERC: (Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya.)

This was a coalition of socialist political parties in Catalonia. Like the Basque Provinces, Catalonia was an industrialized area and had more ties to the rest of Europe than did the rest of Spain. In language and culture, Catalons also differed from the rest of Spain. The ERC wanted self-rule as a first step toward Catalon independence.

FAL (Federacion Anarquista Iberica.)

Europe's largest anarchist party was located in Spain. Its platform called for the removal of government controls from mankind and self-imposed social justice for all. It was opposed to the Church, military, and paramilitary police groups.

Falange: (Falange Espanola de la Juntas de Ofensiva Nacional Sindicalista.)

A self-proclaimed "fascist" party, its platform was concerned with the need to keep Spain great and provide a rightwing alternative for social justice. Its leader, Jose Antonio Primo de Rivera, was on the wrong side of the lines when the rebellion broke out, and was captured and executed by the government.

Monarchist: (Accion Espanola.)

This group wished to return the family of Queen Isabella II to the throne of Spain.

Roman Catholic Church:

By law and tradition, the Church had special privileges in Spain prior to the Republic. While Spain was a Catholic country, not all Spaniards were active members of the Church. Though most practicing Roman Catholics realized that reform was needed, there was a fear that the leftist elements were trying to destroy the Church. Members of the Church were active in CEDA.

PCE: (Partido Communista de Espana.)

Communist Party of Spain. Concentrated in Madrid, the Communist Party of Spain was a small but well-organized party with ties to Comintern and Moscow. At the start of the Civil War, it was one of the smallest players on the scene.

POUM: (Partido Obereo de Unificacion.)

This was the nonComintem wing of the Communist Party in Spain. It had a traditional Marxist outlook and rejected all ties with Moscow. At the start of the Civil War, it was larger than the PCE.

PSOE: (Partido Socialista Unificado de Cataluna.)

This was the Spanish Socialist Party, which was the largest left- wing party in Spain during the Republic.

PSUC: (Partido Obereo de Unificacion.)

The United Catalon Socialist Party. Separate from the PCE, though allied, this was the Communist Party in Catalonia. Again, it was a small party compared to others in the area, but allied to Comintern.

UGT: (Union General de Trabajadores.)

The Socialist Trade Union was under the sponsorship of the PSOE and was the largest organization of its kind in Spain.

UME: (Union Militar Espanola.)

Military Organization of Spain. The prewar right-wing organization for Spanish Army officers.

UMRA: (Union Militar Republicana Antifacista.)

Antifascist Republican Military Organization. The left-wing organization for Spanish Army officers.

Spanish Army

The role of one last group needs to be mentioned, that of the Spanish Army. By tradition, the army in Spain was considered a force that was loyal to the country, and not to any party or form of government. If a bias existed in the military, it was on the liberal side. The Republic was proclaimed in 1931 without any interference, and in fact some support, of the military. The Republic continued to have the support of the military though the election of February 1936, at which time a coalition of the Left known as the "Popular Front" won the national election.

As part of its campaign platform, the new government promised to grant autonomy to the Basque provinces and Catalonia. For many in the military, this was the actual step that caused the revolt to happen. If these areas were granted self rule, the next step would be independence from Spain, which is what the political parties in those areas wanted. Spain would lose its industrial base and take the first steps on what would be the Balkanization of Spain. This was influenced by other factors. But this is the point where elements of the Army decided to take a stand and organize a revolt against the government.

The Nationalist Side

Forces siding with rebels, or Nationalists were the Carlists, CEDA, the Church, the Falange, the Monarchists and the UME. The leader of the revolt was to have been retired General Jose Sanjurjo, but he was killed while flying from Portugal to Spain to join the revolt. To provide a leader after several months of rule by committee, Major General Franciso Franco became the Commander in Chief and Head of State on October 1, 1936.

When one considers the diverse elements in the Nationalist camp, one has some admiration for Franco's skill as a leader. He forced elements to work together to win the war first and foremost. By the end of the war, the Falange had become an umbrella political party under which all of the nationalist parties were forced to join. (The prewar uniform of the Carlists was a large red beret. The prewar uniform of the Falange was a dark blue shirt. The new uniform of the all-inclusive Falange was both items worn together.)

After the drive on Madrid failed at the start of the war, Franco concentrated on a series of slow, methodical campaigns to reduce the area under Republican control. He was very careful to take what he could control before pushing on to other areas. Troops were shifted as needed, and the maximum use of all resources was maintained at all times. Whatever was the Nationalist area of operations was given all needed resources, and other quiet sectors went without.

The German and Italian troops serving in Spain looked all the more imposing because they were always present at the point of action. (Franco did not care for having foreign troops in his country, but he saw fit to use them as needed to win the war.)

Franco's strategy has brought him criticism from many sources that an all-out campaign could have won the war earlier, but one wonders if Franco was interested in winning the war or winning the peace. The longer the war lasted, the more the Republicans carried out an internal self- destructive strife. As a result, by the time the Nationalist Army had occupied an area, the people there wanted an end to any struggle. Had the Nationalists been commanded by a lesser figure, they could have lost the war in spite of all outside aid.

The Republican Side

In sad contrast to the Nationalist side, theRepublicans neverwere able to form a functioning government whose emphasis was on winning the war. The nature of the Republican coalition-with Anarchists, Socialists, Communists, Marxists and the conservative Catholic Basque all attempting to work together-failed to deal with the problems at hand. Much of their efforts were spent in on-going disputes on issues best settled after the war was over, or attempts to purge one's opponents from positions of control. The PCE ended up running the government in Spain, but at the cost of losing the war.

In terms of foreign aid, the Republican government, while getting little to none from the democracies of Europe and America, did receive major shipments from the Soviet Union. The arms and advisors that arrived from the rebalanced those sent by Germany and Italy. The International Brigades provided manpower and support equal to that on the Nationalist side. Again, weapons and equipment went to those units considered to be politically correct, with the result that Socialist and Anarchist units lacked needed weapons.

One last thought. The defense of Madrid in the winter of 1936-37 brought the PCE to its position of power in Spain. When the spring offensive of 1937 failed to take the city, the Nationalists turned their intentions elsewhere. As Madrid was the power base of the party, there was a continued emphasis by the PCE leadership on holding that point at all costs. Military units and weapons were concentrated at Madrid long after the Nationalists had given up their attempts to capture the city-troops and weapons which might have turned the tide elsewhere.

Quick Guide to the Spanish Civil War

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© Copyright 1994 by Greg Novak.
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