La Cucaracha Spanish Civil War Diary April 1937

- April 1937 -

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After the defeat at Madrid, the Fascists concentrate in their northern campaign. The Basque country is one of the industrial centers in the Republic and therefore from eminent importance.

Behind the battle fields another war is going on:

In the so called "Nationalist Zone" the uncontrolled political killings by Falange and Carlists are coming slowly to an end, but court-martials and execution squads are "cleaning" the Fascist controlled areas from "reds", for example known Republicans or union members.

In the "Republican Zone", mostly due to gratitude for Russian aid, the Communist party is gaining an enormous growth in party members. The Communists started to take over key positions in the government from end of summer 1936 and established a "state in the state", with own illegal prisons and own secret police. Now, while the Republic is fighting against the Fascists, they start a big propaganda campaign against the C.N.T. (Anarchists) and P.O.U.M. (Marxists).

In the USA right-wing forces in and close to the government are discrediting the Spanish Republic since the outbreak of the Fascist rebellion. These forces were supporting the Fascists in the world (including Hitler and Mussolini) and now, that public opinion in the USA tends strongly to aid the legal Spanish government, they start a massive propaganda campaign showing Spain as a "Soviet satellite state"(at the beginning of the war there was not even a Soviet embassy in Spain). These propaganda tales are till today in the heads of right-winged people, used to justify the suffering, murder and crimes on the Spanish people. Salvador de Madariaga, analyzing the Popular Front election in 1936, concluded that Spaniards voted 2 to 1 against Marxism, 2 to 1 against clericals and militarists, and 8 to 1 against a possible Socialist revolution. These proportions are based on the party affiliations of the elected deputies.

In the beginning of the Fascist revolt the Communist Party in Spain had a total of around 25.000 Members. By January 1937 it had grown to about 200.000, and by mid 1937 it had reached 1.000.000 members.

From late summer 1936, Largo Caballero, the Spanish Prime Minister, is fighting an inner war against the growing Communist influence on the Spanish State. He demands the recall of the first Soviet Ambassador Marcel Rosenberg, and removes three of the most important Communists from the war ministry, assigning them to the front. But the P.C.E. controls the flow of arms from Stalin, so Caballero is forced to accept the resignation of General Asensio in February from his duty as Under-Secretary of War (after a large Communist press campaign against the General).

*3 April The C.N.T. declares that the revolution has to continue**
	In opposition to the declaration of the Spanish Communist Party (P.C.E.) last month, pro democracy and against revolution, the anarchist C.N.T declares that "revolution has to go on" and that here lies the biggest strength against Fascism. The Anarchist control the province of Aragon and are strong throughout whole Spain.

5 April *The Republican Army plans a big offensive at Brunete

The Republican Generals Kleber and Lukas, International Brigades

To bind Fascist forces and to help therefore the Basque Army in the north, the Republican Army initiates a campaign in Brunete.

*8 April The P.C.E. and the P.S.O.E. (Socialist workers party) sign a pact of working together**
	This "Pact of union" creates tensions between the Socialist unions and Spain's strongest union, the C.N.T.

8 April *General Miaja's troops attack Fascist positions in Garabitas and Casa de Campo

International Brigades

11 April *Republican army attack Fascist positions in Santa Quitera

14 April 1937 - 6th anniversary of the second Spanish Republic

Lion in front of Republican flag. The text reads:

"España, cuyas seis letras sonoras restallan hoy en nuestra alma con un grito de guerra y mañana con una exclamación de jubilo y de paz"

"Spain, whose six sonorous letters resound today in our soul with a shout of war and tomorrow with an exclamation of jubilation and peace"

*16 April The Republican goverment restricts the attributions of war commissars.**
	These attributions were made under pressure of the Russian advisors and the P.C.E.

*19 April Franco unites the Falange and the Carlists into one organization**
	Franco ends a number of political quarrels in the right movements by uniting several right winged and conservative catholic organizations in a "new" Falange under his own command. With this Franco is not only the military leader of the rebellion, he becomes also their political leader.

*23 April Dissolution of Madrid "Junta de defensa"**
	The command of the frontlines at Madrid go back to the high command of the Republican army under the ministry of war.

Guernica

26 April *Bombing of Guernica

The holy city of the Basque people, Guernica, is bombed to the ground by German Legion Condor airplanes. It was the market day and the town was full with civilians. The retreating Basque Army took shelter there. The Bombing was aimed at the whole city, not only at the military objects.

The first Fascist pilot to bomb the city is German Army Major Rudolf von Moreau, flying a Heinkel 111. After him wave after wave of airplanes, close to three hours of bombing. They are also "testing" a new kind of firebomb.

The Fascists, first being very proud of their doings, realize very fast that the world reacts shocked. Being dependent on the foreign help (unlimited oil on credit by the US American Texas Oil Company for example), they soon spread the tale that the retreating Basque Army destroyed the city themselves.

The poster reads the prophetic words:

Tomorrow the world, today Spain
(many thanx to Bernard for this poster)