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Time Line
Time Line
Century
SECOND REPUBLIC:
1931: After the elections, the Republic is proclaimed. The revolutionary committee becomes the
provisional Government. Niceto Alcala Zamora is named president. The Constituent Cortes draft
a new Constitution.
1933: The centre-right parties obtain a majority in the Cortes.
1934: Revolutions take place in Catalonia and Asturias in protest against the participation of the
CEDA (Spanish Confederation of the Autonomous Right-Wing) in the government.
1936: The Popular Front, a left-wing coalition, wins the elections. The new Cortes depose Alcala
Zamora and appoint Manuel Azana President of the Republic.
CIVIL WAR (1936/39): The Spanish Civil War was a major conflict in Spain that started after an
attempted coup d'état by a group of Spanish Army generals, supported by the conservative
Confederación Española de Derechas Autónomas,Carlist groups and the fascistic Falange
Española de las J.O.N.S. against the government of the Second Spanish Republic, then under the
leadership of president Manuel Azaña. And then 40 years of Franco´s dictatorship.
THE POPULAR FRONT:
In Spain's Second Republic it was an electoral coalition and
pact signed in January 1936 by various left-wing political
organisations, instigated by Manuel Azaña for the purpose of
contesting that year's election.
The Popular Front included the Spanish Socialist Workers'
Party (PSOE), Workers' General Union (UGT), Communist
Party of Spain (PCE), the Workers' Party of Marxist
Unification (POUM, independent communist) and the
republicans.
FRANCO BECOMES A DICTATOR:
The Spanish Civil War began in July 1936 and officially ended
with Franco's victory in April 1939, leaving 190,000 to
500,000 dead. Despite the Non-Intervention Agreement of
August 1936, the war was marked by foreign intervention on
behalf of both sides, leading to international repercussions.
The nationalist side was supported by Fascist Italy and later
Nazi Germany, which assisted with the Condor Legion
infamous for their bombing of Guernica in April 1937. Britain
and France strictly adhered to the arms embargo, provoking
dissensions within the French Popular Front coalition led by
Léon Blum, but the Republican side was nonetheless
supported by volunteers fighting in the International
Brigades and the Soviet Union. (See for example Ken Loach's
Land and Freedom.)
The bombing of
The bombing of Guernica (April 26, 1937) was an
aerial attack on the Basque town of Guernica,
causing widespread destruction and civilian deaths
during the Spanish Civil War. The raid by planes of
the German Luftwaffe "Condor Legion" and the
Italian Fascist Aviazione Legionaria was called
Operation Rügen. More than 1, 000 people were
reported killed, but modern research suggests
between 200 to 250 civilians died. Western
countries viewed Guernica as an example of ‘terror
bombing,' and it gave them the impression that the
Luftwaffe was equipped and committed to such a
policy.The bombing was the subject of a famous
anti-war painting by Pablo Picasso.Gernika was the
sacred place for the Basque (Casa de Juntas/Old
Cortes).It represented the first Basque Government,
led by Lehendakari (president) Aguirre once the
Republican Cortes had passed the Basque Statute
of Autonomy in 1936. The entire Basque Country
fell to Franco´s troops in July 1937.
The 40´s
In Spain
Francisco Franco was the dictator and Head of State of Spain from
October
1936 and de facto regent of the nominally restored Kingdom of Spain
from
1947 until his death in 1975. His rule was known for a focus on Spanish
nationalism, right wing and traditional values.
The Spanish transition to democracy was the era when Spain moved from
the dictatorship of Francisco Franco to a liberal democratic state.
The transition started with Franco’s death on November 20, 1975, while its
completion has been variously said to be marked by the Spanish
Constitution of 1978, the failure of Antonio Tejero's attempted coup on
February 23, 1981, or the electoral victory of the socialist PSOE on October
28, 1982.