Who were the players in the Civil War? They fell into two groups-generally-as sometimes this was for realpolitik reasons. We will first look at the Republicans in General.
The Second Spanish Republic was proclaimed on 14 April 1931 and ceased to exist in Spain on April 1st, 1939. However the government would live on in Mexico City until 1976 when a democratic government was restored following Franco’s death and the government in exile was disbanded.
Following the establishment of the Republic a provisional government would be in effect until December of 1931. The first Republican government was led by Manuel Azaña who headed a collection of left political parties and interests whose agenda was to “reform” Spain and bring it more in line with Western Europe. In the wake of the 1933 general election Alejandro Lerroux of the Radical Party formed a government with the support of the Spanish Confederation of Autonomous Right-wing Groups (CEDA), and organization whose function was “to protect religion, family, and property”. This would a common theme in Nationalist propaganda.
During the time of Lerroux’s government the Republican Army suppressed an insurrection by anarchists and socialists in Asturias. Things for the Republic went down hill from here-instead of being content with the government’s squashing of the left wing uprising the more right-wing Spanish groups and individuals saw the uprising as preview of what was to come from the Republic.
In 1936 the Popular Front won the general election which then triggered the Nationalist revolt 17–18 July 1936.
By looking at the members of the Popular Front one could see how this was perceived by the rightest as a threat to “their” Spain. According to Wiki:
“The Popular Front consisted off Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE), Communist Party of Spain (PCE), the Workers' Party of Marxist Unification (POUM, independent communist) and the republicans: Republican Left (IR), (led by Azaña) and Republican Union (UR), led by Diego Martínez Barrio. This pact was supported by Galician (PG) and Catalan nationalists (ERC), socialist union Workers' General Union (UGT), and the anarchist trade union, the Confederación Nacional del Trabajo (CNT). Many anarchists who would later fight alongside Popular Front forces during the Spanish Civil War did not support them in the election, urging abstention instead.”
There were three Republican governments during the Civil War-One led by José Giral from July to September 1936. Even though he was left of center this wouldn’t do for the libertarian socialists, anarchists, and communists who launched a revolution against the Republic which did nothing to help the Republic hold off the Nationalists.
Following the Giral government a socialist and member of The Trade Union General Union of Workers (UGT) Francisco Largo Caballero would take the Republican reins. His government has strong support from the Confederación Nacional del Trabajo (CNT).
The final Republican government in Spain was led by socialist Juan Negrín. Juan would led the government until he was ousted by the military coup of Segismundo Casado. This coup was led to the end of the resistance by Republicans to the Nationalists.
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