La Cucaracha Spanish Civil War Diary August 1936

- August 1936 -

The Military Uprising continues. The government is confident that the uprising has to fail: the rebels have practically less battle ships and nearly no airplanes, most of the troops in Spain itself are loyal, most industry centers and every important port is in Republican hands.

What they don't know yet: Even though in France a left-wing government under Leon Blum already declared to help Spain, the British government will convince Blum to sign a nonintervention agreement. Hitler and Mussolini will agree as well, so they can blockade the Spanish coast with their war ships, completely official and backed up by the democratic nations. The nonintervention of the fascist states will be: sending airplanes, war material and men, including direct intervention. Republican Spain itself will be cut off any possibilities to obtain the war material it needs by buying it officially.

Neville Chamberlain, one of the most important politicians of the conservative government in Britain that time, made all this possible. A close view shows a man with open sympathies for people like Franco (whom he called his friend), Hitler and Mussolini. Chamberlain will not only sell Spain, his famous words "Peace for the world", when he came back from the peace agreement in Munich 1938 with Hitler and Mussolini, meant nothing else then:"...I just sold Spain, Czech, Austria and a couple of other small and unimportant nations to the fascists". His open support for the fascists unleashed the nazi terror on those countries.

02 Aug *Troops of the rebellious Foreign Legion start their advance in direction Madrid from Seville

On the right:

Foreign Legion heading to Madrid

On the left side and down:

After the shock of the military uprising, the official representatives of the government stayed the first days paralyzed and disorganized. The vacuum of power was filled up by political parties, mostly socialists and anarchists. Their fast action, the heroically and selfless fight of their spontaneous formed militias, mostly untrained and poorly armed workers, against well trained and battle probed troops saved the Spanish republic from being overrun in the first days of the uprising.

Republican Militia and Republican Army landing on Ibiza

The Women were fighting together with the men in the militias against fascism. Still, after 6 weeks of war, after territorial losses, terror and murdering, the spirit is high on the Republican side.

Everybody is confident that the military uprising is condemned to fail.

In those parts of Spain, where the Anarchist and Left-Socialist Militias are representing the Military Authority, a social revolution is taking place. In fact it will be the most radical and consequent revolution of the last 100 years.

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last change 07-Jul-2003

*01 Aug Start of the Olympiad 1936 in Berlin**
*01 Aug Under the pressure of Britain, France resigns its declaration to help Republican Spain, and together both nations found the Committee of Non-Intervention**
	While France signs the agreement, Mussolini sends airplanes in support of the rebels. Mussolini was convinced with the help of Marques de Viana and the exiled ex-king of Spain, Alfonso XIII. Mussolini wants money for his help, the Spanish Billionaire Juan March pays for the italian airplanes. Cause Franco has no air personal and pilots, Mussolini sends the airplanes with italian pilots. After two of the airplanes crush on their way in France-Marocco, the world gets notice of this clear break of nonintervention.

*08 Aug France closed its border to Spain today cause the agreement of nonintervention**
	Ignoring the open support by Mussolini and Hitler for the Fascists in Spain, Leon Blum, French Prime Minister, orders to close the border with Spain.

*10 Aug The fascists take Merida on their way to Madrid**
	The republican activist Leiva, a well known woman in Spain, executed by the fascists.

*16 Aug Under heavy bombardment by italian airplanes, the Republican Army land on the coast of Mallorca**
	Captain Alberto Bayo establishes a small base on the coast. He and his men are under heavy bombing by italian airplanes.

*24 Aug Italy and Germany join officially the Non-Intervention agreement**
	This gives them the possibility to participate in the international blockade of Spain, in fact Italian and German war ships are now allowed to stay in Spanish territorial water and prevent other ships from reaching the Spanish shore.