From the 1936 Military Coup to the Francoist Dictatorship
Revise the key events of the Spanish Civil War: causes of the 1936 military uprising, major battles, historical figures such as Franco, Azaña and La Pasionaria, foreign intervention and the onset of the dictatorship. Exam with multiple-choice questions based on the official curriculum.
The Spanish Civil War (1936–1939) was the armed conflict that pitted the Republican side —the legitimate government of the Second Republic— against the rebel Nationalist side, led by General Francisco Franco. It began with the coup of 17–18 July 1936 and ended on 1 April 1939 with the Francoist victory and the start of almost forty years of dictatorship.
It was far more than an internal war: it became a rehearsal for the Second World War. Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy backed the rebels with aircraft and troops, while the Soviet Union and the International Brigades helped the Republic. Battles such as the Ebro, the resistance of Madrid or the bombing of Guernica shaped the conflict and its collective memory.
Studying the Civil War well means mastering three things: the chronology (from coup to dictatorship), the two sides with their international backers, and the deep causes —the political polarisation of the Second Republic—. With the games below you will revise dates, figures and headlines of the period interactively.
1931
Proclamation of the Second Republic after the municipal elections. A period of reforms and strong political polarisation begins.
Feb 1936
The Popular Front wins the elections. Tension between left and right escalates sharply.
17–18 Jul 1936
Military coup led by Mola and Franco. Its partial failure splits Spain in two and starts the war.
Nov 1936
Defence of Madrid under the slogan "¡No pasarán!" (They shall not pass). The capital holds out until the end of the war.
Apr 1937
Bombing of Guernica by the German Condor Legion, a symbol of the horror of war and the inspiration for Picasso's painting.
1938
Battle of the Ebro, the longest and bloodiest of the conflict. Republican attrition proves decisive.
1 Apr 1939
Franco declares the end of the war. The Francoist dictatorship begins and will last until 1975.
Revise the subject with our interactive games and exams:
Write the exact year of each key event within a margin of error. Perfect for nailing the war's chronology.
Play →Place events in chronological order without seeing the year. Pure historical intuition.
Play →Read real newspaper headlines from the period and decide if they are true or false. 10 headlines, graded.
Play →Guess the secret historical figure —Franco, Azaña, La Pasionaria…— using logical clues.
Play →History of Spain · Secondary, Sixth Form
From the coup of 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939. The exam works through key dates with context, not just isolated facts.
Franco, Manuel Azaña, Largo Caballero, La Pasionaria, Mola. Each figure with their role in the conflict and their side.
International Brigades, Nazi-Fascist support for the Nationalists, the non-intervention pact. The civil war within the European landscape of the 1930s.
"A Year 10 student who confused the Popular Front with the National Front understands the difference after seeing the question about the February 1936 elections."
Tricks and techniques to master this topic faster:
Timeline: coup (July 1936) → war (1936-1939) → Nationalist victory (1 April 1939) → dictatorship (1939-1975).
The two sides: Republicans (legitimate government, Popular Front, USSR, International Brigades) vs Nationalists (Franco, Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy).
Key battles: Battle of the Ebro (longest), Madrid (held out throughout), Guernica (Nazi bombing, 1937).
For Sixth Form: structural causes — crisis of the Second Republic, political polarisation, the 1934 revolution.
If you are studying Spanish Civil War — History Exam, these curriculum topics complement each other:
Tuthor uses essential cookies to work and, with your permission, analytics cookies to improve the experience.