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15 January 1936

Centre-left and left political parties agree to jointly contest parliamentary elections as the ‘Popular Front’.

 

16 February 1936

Elections held. The ‘Popular Front’ win a majority in the Cortes (parliament).

 

19 February 1936

Republican ‘Popular Front’ government formed, with Manuel Azaña as Prime Minister.

The new administration declares an amnesty of political prisoners, many of whom had been imprisoned since October 1934 (following a violently suppressed uprising in Asturias and Catalonia against the Lerroux government).

 

22 February 1936

General Francisco Franco removed from his position as Chief of the General Staff in Madrid, and made military commander of the Canary Islands.

 

26 February 1936

Generalitat of Catalonia re-established, with Lluis Companys as President.

 

28 February 1936

General Emilio Mola relieved of his command in charge of the Army of Africa, and posted to the provincial garrison at Pamplona.

 

8 March 1936

Meeting of officers in Madrid (including General Mola and General Franco) to discuss military coup to be headed by General Sanjurjo.

 

15 March 1936

The fascist organisation the Falange is outlawed by the government following attempts by its members to assassinate Luis Jiménez Asúa, a Socialist member of the Cortes, on 10 March, and the trade union leader Francisco Largo Caballero on 14 March. Its leader, José Antonio Primo de Rivera, is arrested for illegal possession of weapons.

 

7 April 1936

Niceto Alcalá Zamora removed as President of the Spanish Republic.

 

3 May 1936

French general election won by the Popular Front - a coalition of socialist, radical and communist parties.

 

10 May 1936

Manuel Azaña becomes President of the Spanish Republic.

 

13 May 1936

Santiago Casares Quiroga becomes Prime Minister, after the post was refused by Indalecio Prieto.

 

25 May 1936

‘Instrucción reservada no.1’ sent by General Emilio Mola, regarding need to unite military and political groups behind a planned military coup.

 

4 June 1936

Léon Blum, leader of the Socialist Party, becomes Prime Minister of France. He forms a government composed of socialist and radical politicans.

Blum served as Prime Minister of the Popular Front government between 4 June 1936 - 22 June 1937 and 13 March - 10 April 1938. The Radical politician Camille Chautemps was Prime Minister between 22 June 1937 - 13 March 1938.

 

12-13 July 1936

Murder of Lieutenant José Castillo Seria (a socialist member of the Assault Guard) by Falangist gunmen in Madrid. Murder of Monarchist leader José Calvo Sotelo in revenge.

 

17-18 July 1936

Start of military rebellion against government in North Africa, then mainland Spain.

 

19-20 July 1936

The military uprising is defeated in Madrid and Barcelona. Morocco, Galicia, Navarre, Old Castile and Seville soon come under the control of the rebels.

 

19 July 1936

José Giral Pereira becomes Prime Minister, following the collapse of the government of Santiago Casares Quiroga and the failure of Diego Martinez Barrio to form an administration. Giral dissolves the army by decree and orders arms to be handed out to workers' organisations.

 

20 July 1936

Death of General Sanjurjo, the intended figurehead of the military coup, in an aeroplane crash in Portugal.

 

21 July - 27 September 1936

Members of the Civil Guard and military cadets are besieged in the Alcazar citadel, Toledo, by pro-government forces. After more than two months the siege was raised by Nationalist troops commanded by General Franco.

The relief of Alcazar was seen as a great symbolic victory by the Nationalists, and stories of 'red' atrocities towards civilians during the siege were used in anti-government propaganda.

 

22-26 July 1936

Intended dates of the Barcelona Peoples’ Olympiad, organised as a socialist counterpoint to the Berlin Olympic games. It was cancelled due to the outbreak of war.

 

23 July 1936

Alternative military government - Junta de Defensa Nacional - established by the rebels at Burgos (President: General Miguel Cabanellas).

 

Late July onwards 1936

Italian and German military supplies, including aircraft, received by the rebels in North Africa and Spain. The Soviet Union, through the Comintern, agrees to send aid to the Republican side.

 

1 August 1936

The French Cabinet appeal to the British and Italian Governments for "the rapid adoption and rigid observance of an agreed arrangement for non-intervention in Spain". During August, key governments (including Portugal, Germany, Italy, the USSR, and Britain) state that "in principle" they will accept such an agreement, and not send military supplies to Spain.

 

6 August 1936

Arrival in Spain of General Francisco Franco from North Africa.

 

8 August 1936

The French Government suspends arms sales and closes the border with Spain.

 

14 August 1936

Capture of Badajoz, Extremadura, by Nationalist forces commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Juan Yagüe. The systematic massacre of an estimated 2,000 - 4,000 civilians followed.

Badajoz was used in Republican propaganda as a symbol of Nationalist barbarism. The Nationalists' use of Moroccan troops ("Moors") to perpetrate atrocities against Spaniards in Badajoz and elsewhere was often highlighted.

 

18 August 1936

Arrest of the poet and playwright Federico García Lorca by Nationalists in Granada. He is subsequently shot dead.

 

19 August 1936

British government ban on arms exports (including civil aircraft) to Spain comes into force.

 

19-24 August 1936

First Moscow Show Trial: 16 defendants sentenced to death for supposedly plotting to kill the Soviet leader Joseph Stalin. Subsequent show trials of leading Bolsheviks take place in January 1937 and March 1938.

 

4 September 1936

Francisco Largo Caballero replaces José Giral Pereira as Prime Minister. He heads a coalition of socialists, communists and Left Republicans.

 

5 September 1936

Irun is taken by the Nationalists.

Large areas of the town were set alight by Republicans (usually identified as militants of the anarchist CNT-FAI) as they retreated. Nationalists would subsequently use the example of Irun as supporting evidence when they argued that the destruction of towns such as Guernica was caused by Republican arson rather than Nationalist bombardment.

 

9 September 1936

First meeting of international supervisory committee on Non-Intervention in London. 26 countries are represented.

 

13 September 1936

The Nationalists take San Sebastian.

 

13 September 1936

The Republican Council of Ministers authorises the transfer of gold and silver to Moscow, to obtain military aid from the Soviet Union.

 

21 September 1936

Rebel leaders agree that General Franco should be appointed supreme commander of the Nationalist forces (Generalissimo).

 

28 September 1936

General Franco announced as ‘Head of the Spanish State’.

 

30 September 1936

Pastoral letter praising the Nationalist ‘crusade’ published by the Bishop of Salamanca, Plá y Daniel.

 

October 1936

Arrival of first International Brigade (Brigadas Internacionales) volunteers.

 

1 October 1936

General Franco formally invested as Caudillo (leader) in throne room at Burgos.

 

1 October 1936

Formal establishment of Republic of Euzkadi (Basque Country), under President José Antonio Aguirre. Confirmed at Guernica on 7 October.

 

6 October 1936

Representatives of the Soviet Union state that they will be no more bound by non-intervention than Germany, Italy and Portugal have been. Within a month tanks and fighter planes from the U.S.S.R. are in action on the Republican side.

 

18 October 1936

Republican government decree announces the creation of 'mixed brigades', combining members of regular army units and militia groups into a 'Popular Army'.

 

25 October 1936

Treaty of friendship signed between Italy and Germany, laying the foundations for the Rome-Berlin Axis.

 

2 November 1936

Nationalist troops capture Brunete.

 

4 November 1936

Representatives of the anarchist Confederación Nacional del Trabajo (CNT) - Federación Anarquista Ibérica (FAI) join the Popular Front government.

 

6 November 1936

Evacuation of Republican government from Madrid to Valencia. A Junta de Defensa, under General José Miaja, is left in charge of the capital’s defence.

 

7 November 1936

Start of Nationalist ground assault on Madrid.

 

Mid November 1936

Arrival of first contingents of the German Condor Legion. They are used as part of the Nationalist offensive on Madrid.

 

18 November 1936

Germany and Italy recognise the government of General Franco as the legitimate government of Spain.

 

19 November 1936

Death of the anarchist Buenaventura Durruti at Madrid. Three days later, nearly half a million people were estimated to have taken part in his funeral procession at Barcelona.

 

20 November 1936

Execution of José Antonio Primo de Rivera, leader of the Falange, by Republicans at Alicante.

 

28 November 1936

General Franco signs pact with representatives of Mussolini, agreeing to Italian control of the Mediterranean in return for military aid.

 

6 December 1936

Mussolini agrees to send an expeditionary force - the Italian Corpo di Truppe Volontarie (CVT) - to assist Nationalist troops in Spain. They arrive in Spain later in December.

 

6 February 1937

Start of the Battle of Jarama - a Nationalist offensive to cross the river Jarama, to the east of Madrid. It continued for most of February.

 

7 February 1937

The southern port of Malaga is taken by Nationalist forces.

 

8-18 March 1937

Battle of Guadalajara (Nationalist offensive). The city of Guadalajara is 34 miles north east of Madrid.

 

30 March 1937

Start of Nationalist offensive on the northern front, commanded by General Mola.

 

31 March 1937

Bombing of the Basque town of Durango by German and Italian aircraft.

 

6 April 1937

Nationalists announce blockade of Republican ports on the north (Cantabrian) coast.

 

19 April 1937

Franco orders the amalgamation of political groups, including the Falange, Carlists and Renovación Española, into one party (Falange Española Tradicionalista y de las Juntas de Ofensiva Nacional Sindicalista), with himself as leader.

 

19 April 1937

Non-Intervention Committee scheme to patrol ports and frontiers comes into effect.

 

26 April 1937

Destruction of the Basque capital of Guernica by aerial attack from German ‘planes.

 

3-8 May 1937

‘Events of May’ in Barcelona: Divisions between different Republican groups (Communists, socialists and anarchists) result in street fighting. Those killed include the trade union leader and socialist politician Antonio Sesé, and the Italian anarchists Camillo Berneri and Franco Barbieri.

 

17 May 1937

Juan Negrín López becomes Republican Prime Minister, replacing Francisco Largo Caballero. His new government contains more Communists.

 

28 May 1937

Neville Chamberlain replaces Stanley Baldwin as Prime Minister of the 'National' Government in the UK.

The National Government was first formed in 1931, following the collapse of the minority Labour government and in response to the international economic crisis. In theory it was a coalition of all major parties; in practice the Labour Party split over the issue, with the majority of Labour M.P.s refusing to support the policies of the new government. By 1937, the 'National' government was very much a Conservative dominated administration.

 

30 May 1937

Germany and Italy withdraw from Non-Intervention Committee.

 

3 June 1937

Death of the Nationalist commander General Emilio Mola in an aircrash.

 

12 June 1937

Start of Republican offensive against Huesca. The commander of the operation, General Lukács, is killed. Offensive abandoned on 19 June.

 

16 June 1937

Partido Obrero de Unificación Marxista (POUM) declared illegal by the Republican government. Its leaders are arrested, (including Andres Nin, killed several days later).

 

19 June 1937

Entry of Nationalist forces into the Basque city of Bilbao.

 

1 July 1937

Spanish Bishops collectively endorse Franco as legitimate ruler of Spain.

 

6-26 July 1937

Battle of Brunete - Republican offensive against Nationalist forces to the west of Madrid.

 

July 1937

First exhibition of Picasso's painting 'Guernica' in the Spanish Pavilion at the Paris International Exposition.

 

14 August 1937

Start of Nationalist offensive towards Santander and Asturias.

 

24 August 1937

Start of Republican offensive in Aragon (Battle of Belchite).

 

26 August 1937

Capture of Santander by Nationalist forces.

 

28 August 1937

The Vatican recognises Franco as ruler of Spain.

 

10 September 1937

Start of Nyon Conference, in Switzerland, to discuss Italian submarine attacks on international shipping.

 

21 October 1937

Capture of Gijon (and Asturias) by Nationalist forces. All of the Cantabrian (north) coast is now under Nationalist control.

 

Late October 1937

Republican government moves from Valencia to Barcelona.

 

12 November 1937

The anarchist Confederación Nacional del Trabajo (CNT) withdraws from the Popular Front government.

 

14 December 1937 - 22 February 1938

Battle of Teruel. Republican forces capture Teruel, before being forced to retreat by a Nationalist counter-attack.

 

30 January 1938

Franco constitutes his first cabinet of ministers.

 

20 February 1938

Anthony Eden resigns as British Foreign Secretary in protest over the government’s policy of appeasement. Replaced by Lord Halifax.

 

9 March 1938

Start of Nationalist offensive in Aragon.

 

12 March 1938

Germany invades Austria.

 

16-18 March 1938

Major bombardment of Barcelona by Italian aircraft.

 

March-June 1938

Border with France temporarily reopened, allowing supplies to be transported by land to the Republicans.

 

10 April 1938

In France, the Radical politician Edouard Daladier replaces Leon Blum, a Socialist, as Prime Minister.

 

15 April 1938

Catalonia cut off from the rest of Republican Spain, as Nationalist troops take the Mediterranean coastal town of Vinaroz.

 

16 April 1938

Signing of Anglo-Italian agreement, including provision that Italian troops should be entitled to stay in Spain until the end of the war.

 

25 April 1938

Start of Nationalist offensive towards Valencia.

 

1 May 1938

Issuing of Negrín’s 13 point declaration of the war aims of the Republican government, intended as a formula for peace negotiations.

 

25 July-16 November 1938

Battle of the Ebro. Republican troops launch an offensive across the River Ebro. Despite initial success, the Republican army is eventually forced back across the river by Nationalist counter-attacks.

 

21 September 1938

Negrín announces unconditional withdrawal of the International Brigade in speech at the League of Nations.

 

30 September 1938

Munich Agreement, transferring the Sudetenland from Czechoslovakia to Germany, signed by the leaders of Germany, Britain, France and Italy.

 

4 October 1938

Withdrawal of International Brigade from the front.

 

11 October 1938

Start of trial of POUM leaders before Tribunal of Espionage and High Treason.

 

23 December 1938

Start of Nationalist offensive in Catalonia.

 

26 January 1939

Nationalist forces enter Barcelona. The Republican government had transferred from Barcelona to Figueras.

 

1 February 1939

Last meeting of Republican Parliament (Cortes) in Spain (held at Figueras). It approves Dr Negrin's three points for the establishment of peace. Nationalist forces occupy Figueras seven days later.

 

9 February 1939

Law of Political Responsibilities introduced by FrancoLink opens in a new window. It allows penalties (including imprisonment and confiscation of property) to be imposed on any supporters of the Republic, present or past.

 

10 February 1939

Fall of Catalonia. In the preceding week thousands of refugees flee to France, including the President of the Republic, Manuel Azaña.

 

27 February 1939

Britain and France recognise Franco’s government.

Azaña resigns as President of the Republic, succeeded by Diego Martinez Barrio, leader of the Cortes.

 

5 March 1939

Successful coup d'etat in Madrid against the government of Juan Negrín. A Junta de Defensa is formed under the leadership of Colonel Segismundo Casado, supported by Julian Besteiro and General Miaja. Fighting within the Republican ranks (between rival supporters of the Junta and Negrin) follows.

 

15 March 1939

Germany invades Czechoslovakia.

 

28 March 1939

Madrid taken by Nationalist forces.

 

1 April 1939

Republican armies surrender. Franco declares war to be over.

 

September 1939

Outbreak of the Second World War:

The German army invades Poland on 1 September.

Britain and France declare war on Germany on 3 September.

Spain remains officially neutral throughout the Second World War.

 

This timeline was compiled using a range of archive materialLink opens in a new window and published sources.

Books used include: Antony Beevor, 'The Battle for Spain: The Spanish Civil War, 1936-1939' (Phoenix, 2006); Julian Casanova, 'The Spanish Republic and Civil War' (Cambridge University Press, 2010); Peter Darman, 'Heroic Voices of the Spanish Civil War' (New Holland, 2009); Andy Durgan, 'The Spanish Civil War' (Palgrave Macmillan, 2007); Helen Graham, 'The Spanish Civil War: A Very Short Introduction' (Oxford University Press, 2005); and Gabriel Jackson, 'The Spanish Republic and the Civil War, 1931-1939' (Princeton University Press, 1965).