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The outbreak of the Spanish Civil War. By Spring 1936 the plot to overthrow. 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.
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The outbreak of the Spanish Civil War By Spring 1936 the plot to overthrow
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