The Spanish Civil War

The Spanish Civil War (1939-1939) was one of the bloodiest internecine conflicts of the modern era, resulting in a repressive and brutal military dictatorship which lasted for almost forty years. Starting with an account of the background to the wat, Sheelagh Ellwood traces the history of the Second Republic (1931-1936), culminating in the electoral victory of the Popular Front in 1936. The author then charts analyses the dramatic chain of events of the Civil War: the army uprising in Morocco in July 1936, the Nationalist advances in southern northwestern Spain, the protracted resistance of Catalonia and Madrid, and the final victory of Franco's forces in the spring of 1939.

Preface viii Principal Dramatis Personae and Political Organizations x Maps xv Introduction 1 1 The Antecedents: 1898-1931 5 2 The Second Republic: 1931-1936 13 3 The Rising: 17 July 1936 - 1 August 1936 28 4 A Failed Coup Turns to War: 1 August - 1 October 1936 42 5 The Drive for Madrid: October 1936 - May 1937 56 6 The Republic's Desperate Struggle: May 1937 - April 1938 75 7 The Third and Final Year: April 1938 - March 1939 89 8 The End of the War. The Aftermath 106 Further Reading 116 Index 121