Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Chronology of Events
- Glossary of Political Acronyms
- Introduction Revolution and Civil War as Forms of Conflict
- Part One World War I and An Era of Internal Conflict, 1905???1935
- Part Two The Conflict In Spain, 1931???1939
- 5 The Revolutionary Process in Spain
- 6 Revolution and Civil War, 1936???1939
- 7 Significance and Consequences
- Part Three Civil War and Internal Violence in The Era of World War II
- Index
- References
6 - Revolution and Civil War, 1936???1939
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 June 2012
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Chronology of Events
- Glossary of Political Acronyms
- Introduction Revolution and Civil War as Forms of Conflict
- Part One World War I and An Era of Internal Conflict, 1905???1935
- Part Two The Conflict In Spain, 1931???1939
- 5 The Revolutionary Process in Spain
- 6 Revolution and Civil War, 1936???1939
- 7 Significance and Consequences
- Part Three Civil War and Internal Violence in The Era of World War II
- Index
- References
Summary
Civil war implies some degree of equivalence of force, even if the two sides are far from equal. A unique feature of the Spanish case was the extent of the division within the armed forces. Had they been united on one side or the other, there would not have been much of a war. The Popular Front government had refrained from purging the army, for two reasons. One was the calculation that most of the military was reliable, and the other was that if the Popular Front should break down or there should be another anarchist insurrection, the full strength of the army and security forces might be needed. The government had not erred with regard to the generals in command. Very few of them joined the revolt, which in many garrisons depended primarily on middle-rank and junior officers.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Civil War in Europe, 1905–1949 , pp. 137 - 180Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2011