The Deadly Dry Run for WW2 - The Spanish Civil War | BETWEEN 2 WARS I 1939 Part 1 of 3 - YouTube (2)
He has outmaneuvered his potential rivals- well, the handful that are still alive and
free- and on September 29 the military Junta declares him head of government.
It only takes him a few days to refer to himself as head of state and begin crafting his image
as the man destined to save Spain.
There has also been a leadership change on the Republican side.
Giral was forced to step down after so many defeats and is replaced by the socialist Francisco
Largo Caballero on September 4.
And so as leader of the Nationalist forces, Franco drives on to the capital.
Meanwhile, the Republican troops become more organized.
The government moves to nearby Valencia, but Largo Caballero is committed to defending
the capital and has already organized a united “People's Army” armed with Soviet weaponry.
The International Brigades are also beginning to arrive, and posters spring up across the
cities screaming the anti-fascist slogan of “!No pasaran!”.
The assault begins on November 6 1936.
But dogged resistance and Soviet aerial superiority means that by the end of the month Franco
has achieved no breakthrough and sustained heavy casualties.
He summons reinforcements in December and January but still achieves little.
He tries again in early-Spring in 1937 but still fails.
The defense of Madrid eliminates all chance for a swift end to the conflict.
It will now settle into a bloody war of attrition.
Franco decides to focus on conquering the northern Republican zone.
Led by General Mola, the offensive begins on the Basque country at the end of March,
1937.
It is here where the most infamous event of the war happens.
On the afternoon of April 26, German and Italian aircraft carrying 60,000 pounds of high-explosive
and incendiary bombs fly to the small town of Guernica to destroy the bridge and railway
station there.
The first two waves create so much smoke and dust that the following planes drop their
loads blindly.
Houses and public buildings are leveled, and fighter pilots strafe men, women, and children
trying to escape.
Hundreds of innocent civilians are left dead, and much of the town is in ruins.
The raid captures international attention, especially after Pablo Picasso captures the
bombing scene in a painting.
But foreign sympathy doesn't transform into foreign aid for the failing Republic, as even
the USSR is losing interest.
The Northern Campaign continues after Guernica, and the Republic can do little to stop it.
Two attempts are made in May and June to divert Nationalist attention.
The first takes place just north-west of Madrid and the second in Aragon.
But both fail miserably, and the Nationalist conquer all of the Basque territory by June
19.
The last person to potentially challenge Franco's power and the mastermind behind the initial
coup, Emilio Mola, is also by now dead, perishing in a plane crash.
While Franco's position has solidified, there is chaos in the Republican zone.
In Barcelona, anarchist leaders have been gradually compromising ideological dogma and
integrating into the Republican government.
But a minority of them are against this and stage a rebellion on May 3.
The "May Days" see brutal street-fighting among former allies and leave around 400 dead.
The fighting eventually comes to an end on May 6, and the anarchists continue their collaboration
with the Republic.
But it shows how quickly a Popular Front can come apart.
It also contributes towards Largo Caballero losing his job as Prime-Minister, being replaced
by Juan Negrin.
He will be the last Republican leader of Spain as the Nationalist advance becomes unstoppable.
More attempts are made to stem the tide.
The Battle of Brunete in July, and then an offensive in Aragon in August and September.
Both see early success, but Nationalists still fight them back, inflicting heavy casualties
upon the increasingly demoralized Republican Army.
By the end of October, Franco has conquered the North, and with Valencia now less secure,
the Republican government moves to Barcelona.
December then sees another Republican counter-strike, this time inside and around the city of Teruel.
Again they see early success, but Franco is determined to crush all resistance, especially
now his fascist backers are growing tired of the endless slog, and pushing him to achieve
a quick victory.
The fighting continues into the new year, eventually resulting in Republican defeat
in late February.
And 1938 will only see more defeat for the Republicans.
The now dominant Nationalist navy has blockaded their ports, meaning that Soviet shipments
have to be smuggled across the border.
The quality of these arms are inferior to Germany and Italy's, and the USSR is losing
interest as it becomes more focused on other international concerns.
Republican Spain is even split in two not long after Teruel with a Nationalist assault
in Aragon and drive down to the Mediterranean.
In mid-July, the Republic will launch its last offensive of the war at Ebro in an attempt
to reconnect its two halves.
The battle is grueling and bloody, with deadly shoot outs in the hilly terrain.
Meanwhile, the last of the International Brigades have left Spain.
Their numbers and effectiveness have been dwindling anyway, and Negrin hopes that by
ordering their repatriation, it will pressure Italy and Germany to also step-back.
The final volunteers have one last parade through the streets of Barcelona in October
to huge public applause.
But it is becoming increasingly apparent to everyone who will win the war.
The People's Army is finally defeated in the Battle of Ebro in mid-November sustaining
20,000 dead and 55,000 wounded or captured.
It has been the Republics last gasp.
They have very little left with which to fight.
Refugees are flooding cities that face constant aerial bombardment and shelling; Food shortages
and other economic woes are endemic, and political conflict is becoming increasingly bitter.
But under influence from the communists, Negrin is insistent that resistance must continue
at all costs.
He is being increasingly challenged, however, and the remaining willpower of the Republic
is tested one more time with Franco launching his final assault.
He begins a massive offensive on Catalonia in December and reaches the outskirts of Barcelona
by the end of January 1939.
Civilians and soldiers alike inside the bombed-out and starved city are so demoralized many just
choose to flee.
Ten of thousands of refugees, including the escaping government, clog the roads leading
to France.
Barcelona falls to the Nationalists on January 26.
Despite his government falling apart all around him, Negrin returns to Spain on February 10
and works on gathering resistance.
But it is a hopeless task, and he is losing supporters by the day.
France and Britain recognize Franco as the legitimate head of government on February
27th.
Ironically, the Spanish Civil War will end the same way it began.
Tired of Negrin's stubbornness, Republican military leaders stage a coup on March 5 and
establish an anti-communist Junta to negotiate with the clearly victorious Franco.
Negrin finally realizes it is over and flees back to France.
Fighting continues in the Republican zone with some committed anti-fascists refusing
to give in.
But it is futile.
Nationalist forces enter Madrid on March 27, Franco declares the war to be over four days
later.
The Spanish Civil War has been a catastrophic conflict and a warning on the future of total
warfare.
Terror bombing and the blurring of lines between civilians and combatants; nihilistic resistance
in the face of all odds; ideological hatred and the dehumanization of adversaries.
In just a few months, this will happen all over again.
Only this time on a global scale never seen before.
If you haven't seen our episode on all the factors which led to the Spanish Civil War
then you can check it out right here.
Our TimeGhost army Member of the week is Emil 'Dota' Bak.
It is because of people like Emil that we can continue giving you in-dept historical
coverage like this.
So be like Emil and sign up to the TimeGhost Army on Patreon.
The link is in the description.
And if those cannibals keep trying To sacrifice us to their pride
They soon shall hear the bullets flying We'll shoot the generals on our own side.
No pasaran
