Topic 2 Flashcards
(38 cards)
Who led the Nationalists at the start of the war?
Franco, Gil-Robles
Who led the Republicans at the start of the war?
Azana, Casares, Barrio, Giral
What was the Nationalists military strengths?
- gvt has support from CEDA, Falange, carlists
- there were different people following different ideologies which don’t go well together
- e.g. Carlists sought the restoration of the monarchy, not creation of dictatorship
- in 1936 militia was put under Franco’s military- easily controlled
What was the Republicans military strengths?
- militia units: 150,000
- made of volunteers
- many rejected hierarchical organisation and formal discipline (especially with radical anarchist militias)
- there were different people following different ideologies which don’t go well together
What was the Nationalists geographical divisions?
- control of North-west
- not included Basque Regions and Asturias
- land in their zone was agricultural- produced food for market
What was the Republicans geographical strength?
- control of south-east
- including Madrid, Barcelona, Basque Region, Asturias
- they possessed most of Spain’s industries and raw materials and the places with biggest population
What was situation at the end of August?
- after 6 weeks it looked promising for Republicans
- Nationalist forces at disadvantage: forces 1/3 smaller
- Civil Guard and Assault Guard supported republic
- although Army of Africa supported Nationalists it took them a while to reach mainland Spain
What was the International Brigade?
- volunteers who travelled to Spain
- supported Republicans
- approx. 35,000 people
- from France, Britain, US
- joined to stop spread of facism
- not trained
What international support did Nationalist get?
- Germany, Italy
- Franco bought from Germany: rifles, grenades, bullets
- Mussolini supplied large number of Italian soldiers
- Italy supplied: aircraft, bombs, artillary
What international support did Republicans get?
- Britain, France
- British gvt. worried that involvement in Spanish affairs would result in wider European War
- France not willing to support unless Britain did aswell
- Britain and France and 27 countries signed non-intervention pact
What was the Non-intervention pact?
- French hoped Germany and Italy would honour agrement and refuse to supply Nationalists
- in practice the policy favoured Nationalists
- Britain and France honoured agreement and sent aid to bot sides
- Germany and France only sent aid to Franco
When was the Airlift?
29th July 1936
What happened at the Airlift?
- aircraft began to carry Army of Africa from Morocco to Spain
- performed by Germans in support of Nationalists
When was the Siege of Alcazar?
September 1936
What happened at the Siege of Alcazar?
- nationalists won
- symbol of nationalist determination and courage at start of war
When was the Nationalists end assault on Madrid?
October- December 1936
What happened when the Nationalists ended assault on Madrid?
- nationalists won
- Nationalists began heavy artillery and aerial bombardment on Madrid
- International Brigade halted Nationalists advance
When was the Battle of Jarama?
6th- 27th February 1937
What happened in the Battle of Jarama?
- Republicans won
- attempt by Franco’s Nationalists to dislodge the Republican lines across the river Jarama
- East of Madrid
When was the Fall of Malaga?
February 1937
What happened in the Fall of Malaga?
- Malaga surrounded on 3 sides- vulnerable
- city was isolated
- Italian advance: 10,000 troops- successful
When was Guernica?
April 1937
What happened in Guernica?
- German air force attack
- limited strategic significance
- occupied one of main routes to North
- horrified Republicans in Spain and world
- symbolised cruelty of facist military tactics
When was Brunete?
July 1937