THE CZECH CRISIS

It did seem, in April 1938, that the war might be over. However, it was to last another year. The Republic underwent another of its political crises, but the government emerged stronger and completely committed to carrying on the war. Even the anarchists backed the government. Franco's army turned south and drove on the great city of Valencia. But the attack went nowhere, bogged down by a newly revitalized Republican army.

In Catalonia, new material arrived from Russia, and the French opened their border to let in arms and oil. The Republican high command decided on a gamble, an offensive in late July across the Ebro River to strike the rear of the Nationalists intent on their drive towards Valencia. The Battle of the Ebro that followed was the same old story: initial Republican success, then a stalemate followed by a Nationalist counteroffensive.

But the Nationalists abandoned their drive on Valencia, and it took four months of grinding fighting for Franco to recapture what the Republicans had taken in one week. The situation in Spain again had reached a stalemate. Now the Nationalists, too, were exhausted, short of material and morale.

Great events were happening in the rest of Europe. The crisis caused by Hitlers aggression against Czechoslovakia brought hope to the Republican government that the democracies would aid them against Hitler's prot6gd, Franco. And it seemed certain the outbreak of a European war would bring aid against the fascists.

As a political gesture, the Republic announced the withdrawal of all foreigners fighting on their side. Most actually left Spain. Not to be outdone, the Nationalists announced the same. A few Italians left. But the Munich Agreement changed the picture. The disgraceful sell-out of the Czechs made Hitler realize he need not fear that a general war would grow out of Spain, no matter what he did. It made Stalin realize he could not hope for an alliance with Britain and France against the Axis. He began to negotiate with Hitler.

German material began to flow in great quantities into Spain in late 1938, and when the Nationalist offensive struck across the River Segre on December 23, 1938, the Republican army caved in. Tarragona fell on January 14, and Barcelona fell, without a fight, on January 26, 1939. Thousands of refugees poured across the French border, Nationalist troops reaching the frontier on February 9. Franco then controlled about two thirds of Spain.

THE END OF THE WAR

In the end, the chronic disunity of the Republican side brought it down. The Republican armies still numbered over 300,000 and could certainly have fought on for many more months. However, some officers of this still-formidable force were negotiating in secret with Franco. Many officers were disturbed by the powerful position of the communists in the government.

They hoped their fellow officer Franco would come to some compromise with them if they got rid of the communists. Certainly, if Franco had demonstrated any willingness to show mercy and forgo massive reprisals, the war would have ended a year earlier. Feeling themselves already defeated and hoping vainly that Franco would prove reasonable, much of the Army of the Center revolted against its government on March 4, 1939. Communist-led units fought rebels in and around Madrid, creating another civil war within the civil war.

This latest crisis was the last straw for many people in Republican Spain. A period of confusion ensued, during which the Nationalist armies simply advanced, meeting almost no resistance---4he demoralized and betrayed Republican troops just metted away. It was clear Franco would not need to make any concessions. For those who wished to go down fighting, the coup had only deprived them of the chance for an honorable death. Tens of thousands would soon die before Franco's firing squads. When Madrid was occupied on March 27,1939, there was no resistance. On April 1, the Nationalist radio announced truthfully this time, that the war had ended.

Spanish Civil War

Introduction and Background
The First Six Months
Foreign Involvement
War in the Summer of 1937
Politics and The Aragon Front
The Czech Crisis and End of War
Bibliographical Note
Who Was Who in the SCW?