Attempted coup d'etat, July 1936

• General Mola assumed the military coup would be successful.
• He believed the army would be able to crush any resistance swiftly and overthrow the government.
• Mola knew he could count on the support of the army's middle-ranking officers to support military coup.
• The Spanish Military Union (UME) was a secretive organisation of more than 3,500 officers that played a key role in the establishment of cells of conspirators throughout the country.
• Alliances:


  Prior to the attempted coup Mola had arranged an alliance with the Carlists and the Falange to ensure their participation in the uprising.
• Alliances:


  The CEDA leader Gil Robles himself was involved with the plot. He donated 500,000 pesetas to the army and instructed provincial CEDA leaders to join with the military in the event of an uprising against the government.
• The fighting begins:


  The uprising began with the revolt of the army garrison in Morocco in 17th July 1936. This was followed by the uprising of garrisons throughout mainland Spain.
• The fighting begins:


  The uprising faced considerable resistance, particularly in areas where l/w unions were strong, such as the rural south and in major cities such as Barcelona and Madrid.
• The fighting begins:


  Trade unions quickly mobilised civilians into militia units and joined with troops and Civil Guards loyal to the republic to resist the military rebels.
• The fighting begins:


  The result was that the uprising was unable to overthrow the government and only able to take control of parts of Spain.
• The fighting begins:

  With control of Spanish territory divided, the stage was set for civil war as both sides sought to establish ultimate authority.