Spanish Civil War

Text source: Eleanor Roosevelt National Historical Site of the U.S. National Parks System Hyde Par, New York (condensed)

From 1936-1939, a civil war raged in Spain between those loyal to the newly- established Republican government and those who favored a conservative, militaristic system. The outcome of the altered the balance of power in Europe, tested the military power of Germany and Italy, and pushed Eleanor Roosevelt “away from the peace movement and into the

Inranks 1931 of ,the the anti-fascists” Spanish monarchy fighting fell for and democracy. was replaced by a democratically elected government dedicated to major social reforms. The newly elected government, called the Second Republic, was largely middle class and promoted policies that attacked the traditional privileged structure of Spanish society. Their reforms included the redistribution of large estate lands; the separation of church and state; and an antiwar, antimilitarist policy dedicated to undermining the power of the aristocracy, the Catholic Church, and the armed forces.

The right (landed aristocracy, the Catholic Church, a large military clique, the monarchists, and the new fascist party, the Falange) resented this attack on their authority, and united and rebelled against the government reforms. Meanwhile, the government’s idealistic reforms failed to satisfy the left-wing radicals or gain the support of workers, who increasingly engaged in protest movements against it. The Second Republic struggled to stay in power by forming a series of weak coalition governments from the 1933 election until 1936, when the Popular

TheFront 1936 swept electoral them from victory office. of the Popular Front (a coalition of Liberals, Socialists, and Communists) underscored both the hope for social reforms for those neglected by the Second Republic and the fears reform posed to the right. The Nationalists (the rightist opponents of the Second Republic government) soon took up arms against the Republicans (the antimonarchist supporters of the Second Republic). In July1936, military uprisings occurred throughout Spain and General led a revolt of Spanish troops in Spanish Morocco. By September, Hitler agreed to aid the Nationalists, Franco and his troops returned to Spain, France and On November 18, 1936 Germany and Italy officially England decided to stay out of the war, and the recognized the Franco regime International Brigade (a multinational first group of volunteers largely organized by France and consisting of many Communists and American liberals) arrived to bolster the strength of defenders of the Second Republic.

Throughout the autumn, the Nationalists won major battles, consolidated their power, and appointed Franco commander-in-chief and head of state. Germany and Italy quickly recognized the new Nationalist government and provided Franco’s troops with planes, tanks, and other materiel. Unable to match the Nationalist war machine, the Spanish republic sought outside support and turned to the Soviet Union for military supplies. The Soviet aid increased internal divisions between Communist and non-Communist supporters of the republic and the anti-Nationalists began to splinter into factions tied to differing political goals.

In 1937, the United States forbade exports of weapons to Spain, Germany conducted large-scale aerial bombings on undefended civilian targets (the most famous of which was , immortalized by a painting by General Francisco Franco on cover of Time ), and the Nationalists conquered the Magazine September 6, 1937 last Republican center in the north. In a series of attacks from March to June 1938, the Nationalists drove to the Mediterranean and cut the Republican territory in two. Late in 1938, Franco mounted a major offensive against the anti-Nationalist stronghold of Catalonia January 1939. , and after months of fighting, finally fell in The Nationalist capture of Catalonia sealed the republic’s defeat. Republican efforts for a negotiated peace failed in early 1939. Great Britain and France recognized the Franco regime in February and international recognition quickly followed. Finally, on April 1, 1939, the victorious Nationalists entered

of Madrid and received the unconditionalthe final Republican surrender stronghold of the conquered Republican army in Madrid. The following report from of April 28, 1937, which was also to appear in The New York Times, and in translation in the French magazine L’Humanité, electrified world public opinion and helped make the bombing of Guernica an international incident. It was written by , whose familiarity with Basque traditions, passionate support of the Republican cause in the Spanish Civil War, and outrage over the bombing may have led him to exaggerate some details, and to emphasize that Guernica was far behind the battle lines and not a military objective. The bombing by the “Guernica” by Spanish artist Pablo Picasso (b.1881 in Malaga, Spain, d. 1973 in German airforce in support of Franco’s Mougins, France at the age of 91) Nationalists was the first time the devastating potential of air warfare had On 26th the German and the Italian Legionary Air Force, been demonstrated. who fought on the nationalist side, initiated Operation of bombing the Basque popu- lation of Guernica. It is considered the first destined to completely destroy one city. The Tragedy of Guernica Town Destroyed In Air Attack Guernica became an icon of the government of the second Republic of Spain and its President Juan Negrín asked Pablo Picasso to create a painting portraying to EYE–WITNESS’S ACCOUNT the world the horror of the Civil War and to evoke sympathy for the Republican cause. The picture was intended to be exhibited in the International exhibition of , April 27 Paris in 1937.

Guernica, the most ancient town of the and the centre of their cultural and under a dictatorial government and he sent the painting, named the Guernica, tradition, was completely destroyed toIn the1940, New with York the museum Franco victory, of Modern Picasso Art on did the not condition want the that painting it be toreturned be in Spain the yesterday afternoon by insurgent air day a new Spanish democracy be voted in. In 1981 the Guernica returned to Spain raiders. The bombardment of this open town far behind the lines occupied precisely three hours and a quarter, and was exhibited in the el Casón del Buen Retiro in 1992 in its final location: El Textmuseo Source: Reina http://www.donquijote.org/culture/spain/painters/guernika.asp Sofia aeroplanes consisting of three German types,during Junkers which a and powerful Heinkel fleet bombers of and

Heinkel fighters, did not cease unloading on the town bombs weighing from 1,000lb. downwards and, it is calculated, more than 3,000 two-pounder aluminium incendiary projectiles. The fighters, meanwhile, plunged low from above the centre of the town to machine-gun those of the civilian population who had taken refuge in the fields. shootsThe whole of this of Guernicacentury, was was also soon untouched. in flames except Here the the kings historic of Spain Casa deused Juntas to take with the its oath rich to archives respect of the the democratic Basque race, rights where (fueros)the ancient of Vizcaya Basque andParliament in return used received to sit. aThe promise famous of oakallegiance of Guernica, as suzerains the dried with old the stump democratic of 600 yearstitle of and Señor, the youngnot Rey new Vizcaya. The noble parish church of Santa Maria was also undamaged except for the beautiful chapter house, which was struck by an incendiary bomb.

fallingAt 2 a.m. until to-day the streetswhen I becamevisited the long town heaps the of whole red impenetrable of it was a horrible débris. sight, Many flaming of the civilian from end survivors to end. tookThe reflectionthe long trek of the fromflames Guernica could be to seen Bilbao in the in antique clouds ofsolid-wheeled smoke above Basque the mountains farmcarts from drawn 10 miles by oxen. away. Carts Throughout piled high the with night such houses household were

Government lorries, but many were forced to remain round the burning town lying on mattresses or looking for lost relatives possessions as could be saved from the conflagration clogged the roads all night. Other survivors were evacuated in the Interior, Señor Monzon, and his wife continued rescue work till dawn. and children, while units of the fire brigades and the Basque motorized police under the personal direction of the Minister of Article continues…. Source: http://www.spanish-fiestas.com/art/picasso-guernica.htm