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- October 1936 - 

 

The Fascists control good one third of Spain and are establishing their power in the so called "National Zone". Even the biggest optimists on both sides are realizing by now, that here starts a long and painful civil war. While the Fascists are closing in to Madrid, the Republic is still reorganizing their Army and concentrating in the defense of the capital city.
The Basque Country becomes the status of a full autonomy country, the Republic Euzkadi. For the first time the Basque people, fighting for independence since the days of the Roman Empire, feel free. It will be not for long...

 

 

01 Oct *Cortes passes Basque Statute

The Spanish Parliament, the Cortes, passes the Basque Statue for full autonomy. To the left: Jose Antonio Aguirre, first leader of the Basque Government .

 

 
03 Oct *Franco establish a Civil Junta as provisional government of the "National Zone"
  In order to "legitimate" the Fascist rebellion inside and outside Spain, Franco establish a civil government for the "National Zone". This Civil Junta has practically nothing to say, cause the rebellious generals declared "the state of war over whole Spain" at the beginning of their uprising.
06 Oct *Soviet Union state that they will help the Spanish Republic
  The Soviet Union declared today, they will not be more bound to the Non-Intervention than Portugal-Italy-Germany. Due to the massive support of those countries for the Fascist rebels, this means that the Spanish Republic will be able to buy know, 3 months after the uprising, armament and ammunition. Unlike the "National Zone", who is supplied openly over the Portuguese border, the Republic still suffers under the closed French border and the "Non-Intervention" blockade at sea.
07 Oct *Jose Antonio Aguirre official named Prime Minister of the Basque Republic
07 Oct *The International Brigades were founded today in Albacete

Above: Officers of the new founded International Brigades

Right: International Brigades

In order to organize the stream of volunteers from all over the world, coming in aid of the Spanish Republic, the International Brigades were founded today in Albacete. The Italian Communist chief Togliatti and the French Communist Andre Marty where the effective organizational heads.
09 Oct *Foundation of the "Popular Army" in the Spanish Republic
  As result of the reorganization of the Spanish Army in the Republic, the Popular Army is created. It is planned to organize the loyal rest of the former army and the militias under a modern and efficient officers corps and under controlled command.
12 Oct *Miguel de Unamuno opposes Fascist General Millan Astray

Miguel
de
Unamuno

During a celebration in the University of Salamanca (National Zone), world famous philosopher and chairman of the university, Miguel de Unamuno, opposed General Millan Astray, first commander of the Foreign Legion. While being till now a supporter of the Fascist Rebellion, which he misinterpreted as a national one, he realize listening to the official speech of General Millan Astray before the guests (between them the wife of Franco) the inhuman and unnoble nature of the uprising. Meanwhile supporters of the General are shouting "Long Live Death", Unamuno says in a loud voice to the General that they have not only to win (vencer), but to convince (convencer), and that he don't think they were fitted for the latter task. That the general himself, crippled by the loss of one eye and one arm in an former war, is also a cripple in his mind, therefore he wants to cripple in his hate all the others. The choleric General becomes so furious, that he wants to strike Unamuno, shouting "Death to Intelligence", this shout is repeated by some of the present officers of the Foreign Legion. Only the intervention of Franco's wife prevents that Unamuno is injured, but he will be removed as rector of the university.
(Cause the international fame of Unamuno and the trouble after the brutal assassination of the poet Frederico Garcia Lorca, Franco refused his own and Millan Astrays wish to execute Unamuno. Instead he is ordered to stay at his house and is not allowed to express himself in public. He will die of chagrin in December. The same day he dies, his two sons enlist themselves voluntarily in the Republican Militias to fight Fascism.)
24 Oct *First German-Italian Airplanes over Madrid
  These airplanes are not bombing...yet.
24 Oct *First Shipment of the Spanish Gold Reserves to the Soviet Union
  The Soviet Union insists in have a security for selling armament and ammunition. Spain has to send more than half his gold reserve to Russia (at $35 per ounce the shipment was worth $578.000.000).
27 Oct *The first Russian tanks arrive in Madrid
  The first Russian tanks, heavy armored tanks from type T-26, with more than 10T weight, arrive in Madrid. They drive from the central train station directly into battle. The defenders of Madrid, who had to use till now Molotov cocktails (glass bottles filled with gasoline and burning cloth) against the German and Italian tanks on the Fascist side, can slow down the advance of the Fascists.
30 Oct *16 people dead and 60 wounded in air raid against Madrid
Six bombs detonate today in the "Plaza de Colon" in the middle of the City. One bomb fall into a queue of women, waiting for milk for their kids. This is the first bombing in modern history without any military meaning, only to spread terror under the civil population. The air raid was made by German pilots in Junkers Ju 52. Madrid has nothing to prevent enemy airplanes from flying over the city.

 

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