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Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil War was the final conflict in the European Crisis leading up to the World War. It raged for more than four years and devastated the spanish countryside, and split the country into many factions. The roots of the civil war took effect during the fall of the Primo de Rivera dictatorship, as the Kingdom of Spain remained a staunch British ally due to facing possible French aggression. However, with the fall of the regime and the proclamation of the Second Spanish Republic, British interests suddenly took a sharp dive, as the French-supported Republicans took power. With Portugal backs against the wall, and Spain falling to the European Alliance's side, Britain and Portugal went on to support a military coup, spurred on by General Jose Sanjurjo. Although the coup succeeded, it was still a disaster for the London Accords, who saw Sanjurjo refuse to let the monarchy come back and instead proclaimed the Spanish State, and vowed to keep the independence and interests of Spain as far away from the British and French factions as possible. With little to no support in Spain, who were torn between Republicans and Monarchists, the country soon disintigrated.
With Sanjurjo's brutal repression of strikes and protests, the flame was soon lit for a civil war. Workers and civilians began arming themselves and some parts of the Army defected. Soon, Spain was split into three camps: the Monarchists, the Radicals and the Republicans. France and Britain supported their own camp of course, but neither dared to intervene, thinking that doing so would be provoking war with each other. For two years, the civil war raged on, with bloody battles occuring in Toledo, Valencia and Santander.
By 1936 however, the great powers had become weary of each other taking too much ground, and the endless fighting that seemed to be to the advantage of the Radicals meant that an intervention had to be made. Interestingly, both the Alliance and the Accords made their intervention known on the same week. France was the first to announce its intervention, flooding in troops into the Basque Country, Aragon and Catalunya, rapidly reaching the frontlines at Valencia. Their help would also help the Republicans secure the Balearic Islands, as well as the Spanish possessions in Africa, such as Western Sahara, the Rif and Guinea, who were taken by either French or Moroccan forces. German troops soon followed, with other Alliance members not following suit but providing material and humanitarian aid.
The British response came three days later, as a force led by Kenneth Anderson comprised of British and Portuguese soldiers invaded Galicia, which until then was held by the radicals. Since the Monarchists were in a very bad state, the British and Portuguese saw much of the fighting, but by 1937 had secured Galicia, parts of the Asturias with the help of the Asturias Libres Movement, as well as Extremadura and parts of Andalucia.
The Radicals were now in a tough spot, and the death of Emilio Mola at the Battle of Cadiz did not help things at all. Finally, on November 8th, 1937, Francisco Franco and Jose Enrique Varela decided to defect along with the Army of Africa to the Monarchist side. This event completely blew the wind out of the Radical sails, who found themselves backs against the wall. Thus begun the Race for Madrid, between Republicans and Monarchists, and it was the Monarchists that got there first, but not after a two-month siege. With Jose Sanjurjo killed in the fighting, the Radicals surrenderred on June 7th, 1938.
However, it was not the end of the Civil War, as now the French-led and British-led factions found themselves at odds with each other. Not willing to start a war with each other over control of Spain, the Accords and the Alliance met in Istres, Provence to mediate a peace treaty. Finally, on November 13th, 1938, the Istres Agreement was signed. Although not perfect, it was an agreement that would eventually stand.
Since they were in control of Madrid, the Monarchists had managed to gather enough support to recognize the Kingdom of Spain as an independent nation. The Asturias would remain seperate, with Portuguese protection, as their role in the liberation of the region was big enough, and after the Asturian uprising, many didnt want a monarch ruling over them. As such, Galicia was also incorporated into Portugal following a local referendum. The Republicans were naturally outraged, and opted for their own government. However, the Alliance didn't control much territory, and only managed to create the Republics of the Basque Country and Catalunya (regarded as the successor to Republican Spain by the Republicans). However, the Alliance did control Aragon, which was eventually traded to Monarchist Spain for the Valencian coast, who had fallen into monarchist hands. As for the African territories, they were incorporated into the Moroccan Protectorate, or in the case of Guinea, transferred to Republican control.
The consequences of this Civil War and Istres Agreement were immense. Although Britain had maintained an ally in the Spanish Peninsula, it had created two Alliance-bound nations. Furthermore, the extent of the destruction in Spain would mean that the Spanish would refuse to intervene in the World War under the guise of reconstruction. It was not until 1947 that Spain was declared "Rebuilt", but by then the Accords had fallen. Spain nevertheless still supported their British and Portuguese allies, being a neutral middle-man between the two countries and allowing the passing of documents, materiel and resources through the country, all of which were vital to keep the Portuguese nation alive.
With Sanjurjo's brutal repression of strikes and protests, the flame was soon lit for a civil war. Workers and civilians began arming themselves and some parts of the Army defected. Soon, Spain was split into three camps: the Monarchists, the Radicals and the Republicans. France and Britain supported their own camp of course, but neither dared to intervene, thinking that doing so would be provoking war with each other. For two years, the civil war raged on, with bloody battles occuring in Toledo, Valencia and Santander.
By 1936 however, the great powers had become weary of each other taking too much ground, and the endless fighting that seemed to be to the advantage of the Radicals meant that an intervention had to be made. Interestingly, both the Alliance and the Accords made their intervention known on the same week. France was the first to announce its intervention, flooding in troops into the Basque Country, Aragon and Catalunya, rapidly reaching the frontlines at Valencia. Their help would also help the Republicans secure the Balearic Islands, as well as the Spanish possessions in Africa, such as Western Sahara, the Rif and Guinea, who were taken by either French or Moroccan forces. German troops soon followed, with other Alliance members not following suit but providing material and humanitarian aid.
The British response came three days later, as a force led by Kenneth Anderson comprised of British and Portuguese soldiers invaded Galicia, which until then was held by the radicals. Since the Monarchists were in a very bad state, the British and Portuguese saw much of the fighting, but by 1937 had secured Galicia, parts of the Asturias with the help of the Asturias Libres Movement, as well as Extremadura and parts of Andalucia.
The Radicals were now in a tough spot, and the death of Emilio Mola at the Battle of Cadiz did not help things at all. Finally, on November 8th, 1937, Francisco Franco and Jose Enrique Varela decided to defect along with the Army of Africa to the Monarchist side. This event completely blew the wind out of the Radical sails, who found themselves backs against the wall. Thus begun the Race for Madrid, between Republicans and Monarchists, and it was the Monarchists that got there first, but not after a two-month siege. With Jose Sanjurjo killed in the fighting, the Radicals surrenderred on June 7th, 1938.
However, it was not the end of the Civil War, as now the French-led and British-led factions found themselves at odds with each other. Not willing to start a war with each other over control of Spain, the Accords and the Alliance met in Istres, Provence to mediate a peace treaty. Finally, on November 13th, 1938, the Istres Agreement was signed. Although not perfect, it was an agreement that would eventually stand.
Since they were in control of Madrid, the Monarchists had managed to gather enough support to recognize the Kingdom of Spain as an independent nation. The Asturias would remain seperate, with Portuguese protection, as their role in the liberation of the region was big enough, and after the Asturian uprising, many didnt want a monarch ruling over them. As such, Galicia was also incorporated into Portugal following a local referendum. The Republicans were naturally outraged, and opted for their own government. However, the Alliance didn't control much territory, and only managed to create the Republics of the Basque Country and Catalunya (regarded as the successor to Republican Spain by the Republicans). However, the Alliance did control Aragon, which was eventually traded to Monarchist Spain for the Valencian coast, who had fallen into monarchist hands. As for the African territories, they were incorporated into the Moroccan Protectorate, or in the case of Guinea, transferred to Republican control.
The consequences of this Civil War and Istres Agreement were immense. Although Britain had maintained an ally in the Spanish Peninsula, it had created two Alliance-bound nations. Furthermore, the extent of the destruction in Spain would mean that the Spanish would refuse to intervene in the World War under the guise of reconstruction. It was not until 1947 that Spain was declared "Rebuilt", but by then the Accords had fallen. Spain nevertheless still supported their British and Portuguese allies, being a neutral middle-man between the two countries and allowing the passing of documents, materiel and resources through the country, all of which were vital to keep the Portuguese nation alive.
- Wings
- Word Count: 940