The Spanish Civil War was a brutal, bloody, and heartfelt conflict that erupted when a young, astute, and highly influential Spanish general named Francisco Franco rose out of Morocco and started a war against the democratic government, controlled by Republican President Manuel Azaña. At that point in 1936 Franco’s troops were the fiercest and well-versed in the entirety of Spain. From July to October of 1936 he also became the figurehead of the Nationalist movement, a descendant of the Falange created by pervious dictator Primo de Rivera (executed by the Republicans November of 1936). The Nationalists (also known as the Right), were comprised of the middle class, peasant landowners of the north, the Catholic Church, and some of the military.
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As the Civil War commenced in 1936, the Republic scrambled to respond. Knowing that the government could not outright arm Spanish citizens, the Republic formed many mini-militias and armed as many as they could. However, Franco and the Loyalists had the majority of the army on his side, including the most skilled generals and admirals. Furthermore, the Republic was a highly divided force. From the beginning and enduring throughout the Civil War, the Republic faced constant internal dispute between the communists, socialists, and anarchists. More damaging, the Republic was poorly funded and did not possess enough resources to win a war. As George Orwell wrote in Homage to Catalonia, the Republican forces in Catalonia had no uniform, and more importantly, not enough guns for the amount of soldiers they were forced to train. Instead, men on the front lines played a relay race, passing the same gun amongst one another. Finally, the Republic was supported by Mexico, because they saw the Republic as the legitimate republic of Spain, and the USSR, due to the Republic’s communist leanings, but received very little aid from either ally. Mexico solely offered diplomatic support, but did not send any financial or military aid. All the Spanish Republic had to offer was whatever gold was left in the National Bank, apparently not enough to buy the aid of other
As the Civil War commenced in 1936, the Republic scrambled to respond. Knowing that the government could not outright arm Spanish citizens, the Republic formed many mini-militias and armed as many as they could. However, Franco and the Loyalists had the majority of the army on his side, including the most skilled generals and admirals. Furthermore, the Republic was a highly divided force. From the beginning and enduring throughout the Civil War, the Republic faced constant internal dispute between the communists, socialists, and anarchists. More damaging, the Republic was poorly funded and did not possess enough resources to win a war. As George Orwell wrote in Homage to Catalonia, the Republican forces in Catalonia had no uniform, and more importantly, not enough guns for the amount of soldiers they were forced to train. Instead, men on the front lines played a relay race, passing the same gun amongst one another. Finally, the Republic was supported by Mexico, because they saw the Republic as the legitimate republic of Spain, and the USSR, due to the Republic’s communist leanings, but received very little aid from either ally. Mexico solely offered diplomatic support, but did not send any financial or military aid. All the Spanish Republic had to offer was whatever gold was left in the National Bank, apparently not enough to buy the aid of other