Second Spanish Civil War

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Second Spanish Civil War
Part of the Spanish transition to democracy
Date23 February 1981 - 11 June 1981
Location
Spain, with Minor spillover into Portugal
Result • Loyalist Victory
Territorial
changes

• Proclamation of the Third Spanish Republic

• Carlist Requetés wage minor guerilla war until the mid-90s
Belligerents

Flag of Spain (1977–1981).svg Bandera de España.svg Flag of Spain (1931–1939).svg Loyalists

• Spanish Armed Forces (Loyalists)

• Civil Guard (Majority)

• National Police Corps

• CESID

Logo PSOE, 1976-2001.svg Spanish Socialist Workers' Party

Bandera del GRAPO.svg Communist Party of Spain

Flag of the International Brigades.svg International Brigades

• International Volunteers

Action Directe.svg Action Directe

Bandera CNT-FAI.svg CNT-FAI (factions)

Supported By:

Flag of France.svg France

Flag of Mexico.svg Mexico

Flag of Portugal.svg Portugal (Battle of Alcoutim)

Flag of Italian Committee of National Liberation.svg Italian Republic

Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union (to communist factions)

Flag of the United Kingdom (1-2).svg United Kingdom (limited)

Betsy Ross flag.svg United Commonwealth (indirectly)

Flag of Spain (1977–1981).svg Nationalists

• Spanish Armed Forces (Rebels and Defectors)

• Civil Guard (Minority)

Bandera FE JONS.svg National Solidarity (renamed to FET y de las JONS in January 1982)

Flag of Spain (1977–1981).svg Búnker

Cross of Burgundy (Template).svg Carlist Movements (Requetés)

Bandera FE JONS.svg Falangist Movement of Spain

Flag of Ordine Nuovo.svg Ordine Nuovo Volunteers

Supported by:

War flag of the Italian Social Republic.svg Italian Social Republic

Flag of Chile.svg Chile

Flag of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency.svg CIA (alleged, denied)

Flag of the Basque Country.svg ETA

Batasuna.svg Herri Batasuna

Estelada roja.svg Terra Lliure

Supported by: Flag of Libya (1977–2011).svg Libya

Provisional Irish Republican Army Badge.svg Provisional IRA

Flag of the FARC-EP.svg FARC
Commanders and leaders

Bandera de España.svg Juan Carlos I

Bandera de España.svg Flag of Spain (1931–1939).svg Francisco Laína

Flag of Spain (1977–1981).svg Adolfo Suárez †

Bandera de España.svg Leopoldo Calvo-Sotelo

Flag of Spain (1931–1939).svg Felipe González

Flag of Spain (1977–1981).svg Manuel Gutiérrez Mellado

Flag of Spain (1977–1981).svg Guillermo Quintana Lacaci

Bandera de España.svg Landelino Lavilla

Bandera del GRAPO.svg Gerardo Iglesias

Flag of Spain (1977–1981).svg Antonio Tejero †

Flag of Spain (1977–1981).svg Jaime Milans del Bosch

Flag of Spain (1977–1981).svg Alfonso Armada †

Flag of Spain (1977–1981).svg Fernando de Santiago

Flag of Spain (1977–1981).svg Carlos Iniesta Cano

Flag of Spain (1977–1981).svg José Luis de Arrese

Bandera FE JONS.svg Raimundo Fernández-Cuesta

Flag of Spain (1977–1981).svg Tomás García Rebull

Flag of Spain (1977–1981).svg Juan García Carrés

Flag of Spain (1977–1981).svg Luis Valero Bermejo

Flag of Spain (1977–1981).svg Blas Piñar

The Second Spanish Civil War (Spanish: Segunda Guerra Civil Española)[1] was a civil war fought in Spain between a broad coalition of reformists, known colloquially as the Loyalists, and several Francoist, neo-fascist and some Carlist rebels, commonly referred to as the Nationalists or simply the rebels.

Background

Overview

Sparked from a semi-successful coup attempt in February 1981, several garrisons (most notably in Valencia) mobilized and seized cities on the Mediterranean, with hastily formed Carlist Requetés engaging loyalists and ETA members, seizing positions in the northwest, primarily in the Basque country. Despite urges from King Juan Carlos and general popular support for the loyalists, many units remained loyal to their commanding officers over the central government, resulting in a lopsided yet brutal struggle. After getting word of other revolts, hoping to secure Madrid, the Spanish Army assaulted the occupied Congress of Deputies. resulting in the rebels executing prime minister Adolfo Suárez and injuring PM elect Leopoldo Calvo-Sotelo, these actions would in turn result in the deaths of two major coup leaders. Lieutenant-Colonel Antonio Tejero being killed in the subsequent firefight and Alfonso Armada being killed after attempting to flee Madrid. After the death and incapacitation of the elected Prime Ministers, Director of State Security Francisco Laína and de-facto head of the Spanish government during the initial coup was selected to head the Spanish government until the end of the emergency.

The Nationalists initially marched from Valencia, with the Requetés defending several strongholds in the north and pro-nationalist guerillas launching attacks across Spain, primarily in the west, with one group launching an attack into neighboring Portugal, resulting in a defeat and an international incident. Despite being overwhelmingly outnumbered, the nationalists managed to advance as far west as Cuenca and as far north as to see the city of Tarragona on the horizon. After a successful counterattack by Loyalist forces in the north, resulting in the Carlists to go underground, the Loyalists pushed the Nationalists back to Valencia by 7 May, with a month long siege resulting in the surrender of the Nationalists.

After the collapse of the rebellion, Provisional Head of Government Laína stepped down on the 15th of June, and after a 57 hour debate the Spanish government voted to abolish the Spanish monarchy, confirmed by a referendum held a month later. Begrudgingly, King Juan Carlos agreed to abdicate provided he was allowed to remain in the country, officially ending the Alfonsist line.

Foreign involvement

Comparisons to other conflicts

  1. Also known as The Defense or The Reclamation among Nationalists, the Fifth Carlist War among Carlists, The Rebellion among Loyalists and occasionally The Finality by republicans and some communists.