The Asturias uprising and its consequences

• PSOE's 'October Revolution' against the new r/w coalition failed.
• The PSOE had not expected CEDA to enter government and therefore had not prepared for an uprising. The PSOE was not seriously considering a revolution, the CEDA backed government had been preparing for a complete suppression of the left since the summer of 1934.
• The government initiated a military training exercise in Leon in September, designed to prepare the army for suppressing a l/w revolution.
• General Franco, would later lead the army in its suppression of the uprising in Austrias.
• The October Revolution in Asturias:

  The revolution in Asturias was the most spectacular part of the failed October Revolution.
• The October Revolution in Asturias:

  Asturias was a relatively industrialised part of Spain.
• The October Revolution in Asturias:

  Coal mining was the dominant industry in the region. However, the Depression of the early 1930s resulted in a collapse in demand for coal. The owners of the coal mine responded by reducing wages and cutting the workforce, which enraged the miners.
• The October Revolution in Asturias:

  The miners, who were already radicalised by the results of the Depression, eagerly joined the revolt against CEDA's inclusion in the cabinet.
• The October Revolution in Asturias:

  A range of l/w groups in the Asturias region worked together to fight the army and the police, making it difficult for the authorities to suppress the uprising.
• The October Revolution in Asturias:

  Following a successful on the Civil Guard the rebels quickly established control over the province. The victorious workers established an independent workers' republic, which controlled approximately a third of the Asturias province, including its regional capital Oviedo and 80% of its population.
• The October Revolution in Asturias:

  Local revolutionary committees controlled key aspects of daily life, including food supplies, communication and public order. The revolutionaries moved quickly against their enemies, including 58 churches and taking hostages including businessmen, r/w supporters and clergymen, 31 of whom were murdered.
• Suppression:


  The government responded by sending 20,000 troops into the region of Asturias. Many of these troops had recently served in North Africa.
• Suppression:


  The Spanish navy was authorised to shell major cities along the coast and the air force bombed towns and villages.
• Suppression:


  General Franco, who remained in Madrid, oversaw the suppression of the revolt. His strategy was based on the military training that had taken place in September in Leon. Leon is just south of Asturias and therefore the troops were well prepared for fighting in the region. Fighting went on for 2 weeks, by the end of which the uprising had been crushed.
• Suppression:


  The military suppression was brutal. On the outskirts of Oviedo 61 civilians were shot. 50 prisoners were executed in the Pelayo barracks. Total casualties from the uprising amounted to almost 1,400 killed, of which 1,100 revolutionaries, and 2,951 wounded - the majority were rebels.
• Suppression:


  The rebels surrendered on 19th October 1934.
• Suppression:


  Army actions continued. Villages were burned to the ground, prisoners were tortured and executions without trial took place across the region. Thousands of members of trade unions and members of the UGT lost their jobs and many were imprisoned.
• Suppression:


  The government suspended Catalan autonomy. The government ordered thousands of arrests of l/w activists, even in areas that had not participated in the uprisings.
• The consequence of Asturias - Polarisation:


  The Asturias uprising led to the further polarisation of Spanish politics.
• The consequence of Asturias - Polarisation:


  On the right, people believed that the rebellion had been a genuine threat to the republic. People believed that it was the evidence that the left were preparing a revolution designed to sweep away the government, the Church and the army and create a Soviet-style communist government. The r/w press claimed, the revolt showed that the left no longer respected democracy. The PSOE and its allied had tried to take power from a democratically elected government by force.
• The consequence of Asturias - Polarisation:


  The left saw things differently. The rebels in Asturias were heroes who had been trying to defend their rights and their jobs. Socialists, communists and anarchists viewed the suppression of the revolt as a barbaric and wholly unjustified use of the army. Argued it was evidence that Gil-Robles was planning a military takeover of power - first step towards establishing a fascist dictatorship.
• The consequence of Asturias - Radicalisation on the right:

  Moderate Spaniards and members of the m/c were concerned by the Asturias uprising. Viewed l/w violence against the church and business people as a threat to their way of life. Spanish media had sensationalised alleged atrocities committed by l/w forces, such as the widespread raping of nuns, which again made some Spaniards more supportive of r/w groups. The m/c tended to move to the right, hoping a strong r/w leader would stand up to l/w groups and defend the property and privilege of the m/c.
• The consequence of Asturias - Radicalisation on the right:

  Elements of CEDA started to call for a fascist dictatorship. Gil-Robles, spoke out against the weakness of Lerroux's government and the need for a strong alternative to the Radical Republican-led government. He also praised Hitler, arguing that Nazism in Germany had created an 'economic miracle' and that a similar approach could lead to economic recovery in Spain.
• The consequence of Asturias - Radicalisation on the right:


  Youth for Popular Action (JAP), a r/w youth group, began to adopt fascist symbols and a military-style uniforms similar to those in Italy and Germany. He began to be referred to as the 'chief' and JAP began to demand 'all power to the chief', again copying the style of dictatorships.
• The consequence of Asturias - CEDA gains ground:

  PSOE's attempted revolution meant Gil-Robles could push for greater CEDA influence in government. He argued that the government needed to take l/w threats more seriously and therefore Lerroux needed to work more closely with CEDA, as CEDA was committed to standing up to the revolutionary left.
• The consequence of Asturias - CEDA gains ground:

  May 1935 - Lerroux and the president gave in. CEDA gained more seats in the cabinet and Gil-Robles was promoted to minister of war.
• The consequence of Asturias - Military Preparation:


  
Gil-Robles began military preparations. He promoted r/w officers to key positions and began a secret rearmament programme. Gil-Robles never made his real intentions clear. His preparations could have been the beginnings of a military takeover or he could have been preparing for a civil war.
• The consequence of Asturias - Military Preparation:

  Gil-Robles used his position to appoint Franco, who was known for his hatred of the republic and his willingness to use violence against the left, as chief of the general staff. He promoted general Joaquin Fanjul, a well-known monarchist who was associated with groups plotting to overthrow the republic. Franco and Fanjul began to purge the army of officers who supported the republic. Officers with monarchist or fascist sympathies were promoted to replace them and put into key positions within the army.
• The consequence of Asturias - Military Preparation:


  Gil-Robles put other military policies into place:

  • Munitions factories were placed under military guard. Claimed it was to protect the from l/w groups
  • Army training increased in areas where there was strong union movement
  • Arms production increased as a part of secret rearmament programme.
• The consequence of Asturias - Military Preparation:


  Gil-Robles' policies prepared the army to fight and win the civil war of 1936-39.
• The consequence of Asturias - Impact on the left:

  Failure of the Asturias uprising also had an impact on the left. It persuaded many of the need to re-engage with democracy. Revolution had failed and therefore many in the PSOE and other l/w groups began to argue they should attempt to gain power through election. Several l/w groups began to co-operate during the Asturias uprising and this co-operation continued after the uprising was suppressed, creating the possibility of an electoral alliance.
• The consequence of Asturias - Impact on the left:

  The Asturias uprising undermined the left's democratic legitimacy. The 1934 October Revolution was perceived by many as an attempt to overthrow a democratically elected government. Critics of the left argued the PSOE and other l/w parties had decisively rejected democracy. It was difficult for the left to claim that they were committed to or willing to defend democracy.