Police seizure of weapons and ammunition in Barcelona

In the 1930s, the use of violence as an acceptable means of achieving political goals became common among young anarchists, communists, and socialists, but also among members of the Juventudes de Acción Popular (Popular Action Youth) and the Falange Española. Violence became both an alternative to and a valid strategy of parliamentary politics.

The main target of the violence was property and objects; however, clashes between opposing political groups and with the police forces resulted in the deaths of around one thousand people between April 1931 and July 1936.

During the first half of 1936, especially in the spring, a wave of collective mobilizations filled the streets with demonstrations and protests. These aimed to reclaim rights lost during the previous two years, to pressure the government to resume the reforms that had not been implemented, and also to advocate for amnesty for the prisoners of the October 1934 Revolution.

On 4 March 1936, the newspaper ABC published: “The streets are in charge. Now it can truly be said that Spain has taken to the streets.” Indeed, since the victory of the Popular Front in the February elections three weeks before, a wave of mobilizations had begun which, although often peaceful and celebratory, could at times include violence—especially when the security forces became involved, as their interventions often led to clashes with demonstrators.

But it wasn’t only the police who confronted these demonstrators. The opposition to the electoral victors—especially Falangists and members of the JAP—provoked attacks with small armed groups or sought to trigger police intervention. At the same time, parades, uniforms, and firearms training and military drills began to proliferate among groups such as the Carlist Requeté, the Socialist and Communist Youth, and the already mentioned JAP.

In this way, these groups gradually became more radicalized and militarized. Along with the constant retaliation to attacks from both sides, this gave rise to a spiral of escalating violence and reprisals. By June 1936, the intensity of the mobilizations began to decline, but the military conspiracy that had started to take shape in the wake of the recent electoral results continued to advance until it materialized on July 18.

ACS