BY SPRING 1936 THE PLOT TO OVERTHROW

THE OUTBREAK OF THE SPANISH CIVIL WAR

COUP D'ÉTAT

• Generals Mola, Goded, Fanjul and Franco (later)• Sanjurjo was nominal

leader but he was in exile in Portugal• Mola became the main

organiser• Included lots of

younger, more junior officers

• Met 8 March 1936• Agreed that if Caballero took over the

government or a communist revolution took place then they would act to take over major towns, specifically Madrid

POPULAR FRONT RESPONSE

• Transferred some generals to less central or less important commands• Franco – Canary Islands• Goded – The Balearics• Mola –Pamplona in Navarre (left him in a

stronger position to negotiate with the Carlists)

SUPPORT

• Alfonsist monarchists – Calvo Sotelo’s National Bloc• CEDA – Gil Robles• CEDA had declined after electoral defeat in Feb 1936

• Carlists –Fal Conde• Requetes had 6000 armed members• Disagreements between Conde and Mola

• Falange

ASSASSINATIONS

• 25 May – Mola issued a detailed plan for risings in the provinces to be followed by a co-ordinated attack on Madrid

• 12 July Falange gunmen killed left-wing Assualt Guard officer Castillo

• As reprisal Calvo Sotelo was kidnapped and shot

PLANNING

• Date set for 18 July• Plot in Morocco was discovered so army acted on

17 July• 18 July rebellions in Andalucía• 19 July rebellions in Madrid, Barcelona, Pamplona

and Saragossa• Franco had arrived in Morocco and taken

command there

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE

• PM Casares Quiroga resigned

• Replaced by Martinez Barrio

• Telephoned Mola on Pamplona on 18 July

• Martinez resigned on 19 July

• Replaced by Giral• Gave arms to the various

workers’ militias in Madrid to defend the Republic