2.2.1.9 Divisions Within the Republican Side

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Tommy

Cards (4)

  • Internal Republican Divisions:
    1. Anarchists and socialists on the extreme left wanted to use guerrilla tactics and revolutionary warfare strategies
    2. Moderate Republicans, represented by communists and mainstream socialists, emphasised the importance of a more conventional strategic approach
  • The Republican government favoured a more conventional approach to the war, reflected in how the Popular Army was organised
  • The government tried to bring independent militias under central control as they were weary of a social revolution and did not want to alienate moderate support or Britain and France
  • In May 1937, divisions within the Republicans led to open conflict in Barcelona between militiamen from the moderate and extreme left. The extremists were defeated, and the moderates gained dominance after Juan Negrin, a communist, replaced Largo Caballero as PM