Civil war

• who supported July , 1936 coup?

  • right wingers
  • army , carlists, Falange
  • middle class
• why did the 1936 July coup not succeed?

  • the left wing united
  • unions changed into militias , many civilians were prepared to fight to defend the republic
• how united were the nationalists at the outbreak of war?

  Divided

  • Mola had support from CEDA , Falange , Carlists
  • UME (secret organisation) helped Moia
  • Primo De Rivera didn't trust Mola or Sanjuro , they were keen to work with De Rivera and Falange to give impression of widespread support
• how united were republicans at the outbreak of war?

  Divided

  • they were united in opposition against political aims of Nationalists
  • lots of internal conflict - Anarchists wanted to remove government and start violent revolution , socialists = didn't want to destroy gov in long term
  • Community Party (PGE) - workers worked with gov to revolt against Nationalists
  • POUM leader demanded immediate overthrow of government - traitor
  • hard to find leader
• why was Franco's airlift important to the Nationalists?

  Mussolini sent 9 bombers , German Junkers carried 1500 troops in 2 weeks

  • helped consolidate nationalist hold on Southern Spain by sending 5000 troops to Spain in first 2 weeks
  • Italian bombers attacked Spanish naval blockade so Franco could send more trade
  • ensured Republicans couldn't take Seville
• nationalist strengths : August 1936

  • had a larger army compared to R (1,000,000)
  • training was more efficient e.g military commanders provided training for lower commanders , had 28 military academies
  • support from large-scale organisations e.g Church
  • Franco's airlift
  • Falange , Carlists , police worked together to destroy Republican supporting unions
  • Carlists provided 12,000 more volunteers - militias controlled by military
• nationalists weaknesses : August 1936

  • got less support from public
  • nationalist forces divided - Mola led army in North , had base in Seville , Franco forces unable to leave Morocco
• republicans weaknesses : August 1936


  • smaller army with a wider age range (17-55) - range of skills
  • not effective at fighting , more suited to gorilla warfare
  • alienated from church and middle classes as left wing terrorised them
  • 1/2 of officers in army supported Republic
  • fighting forces = not uniformed
• significance of the Non-Intervention Pact for the course of the Spanish Civil War

  • signed by France , Britain , Germany , Italy and 27 other countries
  • France hoped Germany and Italy would keep Treaty - no intervention would result in Republican victory due to their industrial advantages
  • Germany , Italy ignored it = sent aid to Franco and Nationalists
• republican strengths : August 1936


  • more manpower
  • controlled more 5 major Spanish cities - majority of industry
  • controlled gold reserves = trade and buy goods it needed to keep fighting
  • had support from workers , anarchists , Catalonia and Basque , unions