Spain, 1936

Spain once held all the silver of the world in its hands, but, these days, it is a poor, half-industrialized, agrarian country in the midst of a massive political-economic crisis. It was never in that good of a political position, despite its geographical importance, but as of 1936, it’s only becoming worse. Republican uprisings were generally put down by the monarchists and reaction, but the people still remember their freedoms and promises, however brief they were. The Socialists and Anarchists, too, remember them, and want even more.

The Monarchy can only move to oppress them as best as it can, but it hardly has a grip. Paramilitary violence between Las Camisas Azules de La Falange, the National Phalanx’s Blueshirts, and the Communist Party’s Militias is common in Madrid, and the Somaten, the Men Who Beat Down, of Primo de Rivera find themselves at violent odds with the (illegal) FAI assassins in Catalonia. Alfonso XIII is seen by many as a weak, lazy, and effete monarch, particularly by those Carlists of the National Phalanx who wish to install their favored lineage to power, and the everpresent Republican movement, which is desperate to restore the First Republic and usher in a new age of freedom and secular democracy on the Iberian Peninsula. Morocco is eyeing up Spain’s colonies in the Rif, and Francisco Franco of the Army of Africa is getting concerned that his glorified vacation in the Rif may come to an end very, very rapidly.

The one good thing Spain has going for it is that they finally, after all these years, control Gibraltar again, but if all this is the price for the rock at the tip of Iberia, they would rather that it be returned to the accursed anglos so that things should stop being on fire.

But, why do you, oh distinguished international observer, care about Iberia? Well, if control of one of the two entrances to the Mediterranean (and, let’s be real, the far more convenient one) isn’t important to you for whatever reason, there are other geographical reasons. It is a relatively fortified position in Southwestern Europe, meaning that troops can be staged in it for sea invasions elsewhere in Western and Southern Europe with less fear of a land invasion due to the Pyrenees. Moreover, if you expect air power to win wars of the future, Spain will make an excellent airstrip from which to base air operations in a place the enemy can’t get to without trying really hard. Good for bombing Certain Areas of Western Europe.

Take note, Germany, Canada, and Sand France. Take note, Communard France, Britain. Take note, everyone in Italy. All factions should be made aware of the opportunity Spain presents, for both offensive and defensive applications, even if they for some reason would rather dedicate time and resources elsewhere.

After all, many people in history chose not to act on prime opportunities presented to them, and it is a free choice if you decide that winning is just too stressful, just too much for you, and you’d rather see how the other guy runs the world for a while.

With that, a briefing on factions at play in Spain:

The Radicals

The Socialist Republicans, led by José Díaz Ramos & Dolores Ibárruri Gómez of the Partido Comunista de España (Radsoc/Totalist) and Francisco Largo Caballero of the Partido Socialista Obrera de España Radsoc/Socdem). They wish to achieve a Socialist Republic whether by force or by peace. While the PSOE is the larger and older of the two, the PCE is rapidly moving to gain outsize influence over the coalition and lead the masses of the Socialist Republican movement in their own direction, a more militant direction. The PSOE is less enthusiastic about the idea of armed struggle (which was, obviously, why they split in the first place), but is willing to remain in coalition with the PCE as long as they continue to pursue a peaceful transition to the Socialist Republic. Both are interested in collaboration with the Republicans against the monarchy (each for their own reasons) for methods which are, currently, constrained to an unarmed struggle.

The Syndicalists, led by Buenaventura Durruti & Juan Garcia Oliver of the Federación Anarquista Ibérica (Syndie) and Ángel Pestaña Nuñez & Horacio Martínez Prieto of the Confederación Nacional del Trabajo (Syndie). They are, of course, Syndicalists, but their radicalism varies. The CNT-FAI is in a historic moment as of 1936, and in a choice between tempered, semi-moderate Syndicalism, as endorsed by the French, and the fiery blaze of Libertarian ideology, that is, the red and black flag of Anarchism. The main thing preventing the utter political domination of the FAI is that they’re actually illegal and under police suppression (due to the Rivera regime banning them after the events of 1934), but even still, their pull upon even the legal side of the movement is massive and felt throughout.

The (Relatively) Moderates

The Republicans, led by Manuel Azaña Diaz of Acción Republicana (Soclib/Socdem) and Alejandro Lerroux of the Partido Republicano Radical (Marlib/Authdem), are all Republicans, yes, but they are far different in their actions. The PRR is happy to bide it’s time and curry favor with the monarchy’s ministers, thus cooperating with the monarchist regime in the name of a peaceful transition to democracy.

The AR is not happy to bide it’s time and is excited to burn it all to the ground and set up a democratic regime in Spain, to the extent that they are willing to deal with the far left. They hate the church, they hate the monarchy, they hate the Civil Guard, they hate the Somaten, they are maybe the most radical of the radical-liberals. Anyone who has ever tried to organize a Republican coup d’etat and was caught was related in some way to the AR, who, naturally, had to disavow them. Thankfully (for the AR), none of the coupists got very far yet, and so the AR manages to cling on to legality.

The Reactionaries

The Carlists, led by Infante Alfonso Carlos (Natpop) vy for state power, for control over the crown. Their only problem is the lack of an heir to the aging Alfonso Carlos, but other than that, they are the most popular alternative option for those on the Monarchist Right. They are, in the modern age, deeply influenced by the ideas of Integralism, and deeply ingrained in the Catholic tradition. The Requetés, for now, march happily through the streets, singing the songs and wearing the shirts of the National Phalanx, as they move to confront the Alfonsists and Riveristas of the Somaten. However, they are well aware that the Falange only sees them as a movement absorbed for political expediency and convenience; soon there will be a struggle for the charred and blackened soul of the Spanish Right, and the Carlists intend to come out on top.

The National Syndicalists & Integralists, led by José Antonio & Ramiro Ledesma Ramos (Natpop) form La Falange, and, while they are perfectly happy to accept and shape the views of Carlists in the party, they have other plans for the Offensive of National Syndicalism beyond just installing a new royal lineage; many see the whole institution as tainted, and are perfectly willing to forgo it in exchange for a Junta or, better yet, a Dictator. There are others in the party, however, who distrust José Antonio Primo de Rivera for being the child of Miguel Primo de Rivera, the prime minister, no matter how wayward of a son José may depict himself, instead favoring Ramiro Ledesma. While there are no problems yet, they will surely soon emerge.

The Monarchists, led by Miguel Primo de Rivera of the Unión Patriótica Española (Patauth) are in a tight spot, namely because no one likes them. The conservatives are being drawn away to either the PRR or one of the many factions of the Falange. Those who constitute moderates (either left or right of center) flock to the PRR and AR. The leftists, please, don't even mention them. Primo de Rivera saved the monarchy once, but can he do it again? What will the UPE bring which will lighten the hearts of the people? It may be something annoying like, at last, liberalization, but it may well be a fresh dictator with a clean slate. Whatever it is, it will no doubt require the Iron Heel to some extent.

A briefing on the police, military, and paramilitary forces of Spain:

The Falange’s Camisas Azules are the notorious reactionary paramilitary, who find themselves at constant odds with the Alfonsist-loyal Civil Guard and Somaten, as well as with the FAI assassins and communist gangsters of the MAOC. They, like the other two militias, brand themselves as a truly working class organization. Obviously, they are deeply reactionary and dominated by Carlists and Natpops, and were founded to enforce the political will of the National Phalanx in the streets of Spain wherever the Falange will have them sent. Some of their most dedicated militants are those beret-sporting Requeté militiamen, in fact, who naturally pick the most fights with the Alfonsist police. The Blueshirts are currently fine as they are organized and recruited and have a good size, but that conflict between the Requeté Carlists and the non-Carlist Integralists will become a rapid problem within their movement in the power struggle between them.

The aforementioned FAI are perhaps the largest of the militias, and are deadly secret about their membership. They regularly carry out shootings of political enemies, especially in the Barcelona area, as well as assassinations of policing agencies such as the Somaten and Civil Guards. They are nothing but the most radical and militant of the Syndicalists, and the favored followers of Durruti. They are highly dangerous to the old order and should be watched out for at all costs. It should be noted though, that not every member of the CNT is a member of the FAI, and many believe that such radical Anarcho-Syndicalism is hurtful to the movement at present. A more moderate leader of the CNT would do well to distance themselves from the columns of Durruti.

The Milicias Anti-integralistas Obreras y Campesinas, then, are the smallest of the militias, concentrated mostly in Madrid. They are, of course, augmented by the PCE/PSOE youth group, the Juventudes Socialistas Unificadas, as well as the socialist UGT confederation (albeit their actual membership overlaps with both), both within and outside of Madrid. They can be considered to be the most strict and organized of the paramilitary groups, and, in general, rather than being formed to enforce political will, are used as party security (this isn’t necessarily out of a wish for peace and a desire for legalism; it’s just that they don’t have enough militants to sustain that sort of offensive.) They are, thus, also the most technically legal paramilitary in Spain, due to that, as well as a fear of being too easily suppressed if the ire of the law is drawn against them. While the PSOE is happy with the arrangement, the PCE is very, very interested in a massive expansion of their 5 Battalions into a true revolutionary army for Spain, and given their dominance in the coalition, they may soon get their wish.

El Ejército Real is the “main” army. Spain is a poor country which is capable of just barely supplying enough rifles and bullets to her soldiers, much less training them for discipline and equipping them well. They are certainly not the worst army in all of Europe, and especially not in all of the world, but they leave much to be desired in many ways. The army is also almost entirely unmechanized, save for a few leftovers from WW1 and a couple sorry attempts at indigenous designs. Due in part to this lack of funding, organization, and discipline, it is infiltrated by all types across the political spectrum-- not to an uncontrollable amount, but to the point where it’s starting to get to be a problem, especially for the Republicans, who’s most radical members at times seem very keen on the idea of a coup d’etat, and the Carlists, who, well, they’re obviously a problem. The Kingdom of Spain would do well to attempt a purge of anyone who’s politics are other than abject loyalty to the crown and to the Rivera Regime.

El Ejército de África y los Tercios, or, the Moroccan Army Corps and the Spanish Legion, are Franco’s moors and mercenaries. Veterans of the various rif wars, and all highly reactionary. They are, in effect, the actual army of Spain. Most of the budget goes to supplying them well-- they remain largely non mechanized, though. They are, frankly, impenetrable by any infiltration, and can safely be assumed to be loyal to the crown. Assumptions have been wrong, though; Francisco Franco holds no particular love for anyone in charge, beyond a certain amount of Catholicism and a general dislike for the red menace of Syndicalism. Even a Republican could win him over if they were to distance themselves from the reds and were to not go after the Catholic Church. Currently, however, Franco is merely enjoying his tequila in a poorly lit office in an army outpost in the Rif and wishing that something would happen-- he may get his wish soon.

The Somaten were once mainly a Catalan institution, but due to their efficiency, under Primo de Rivera they have been expanded to the whole country as a means of expanding rural peacekeeping and repression of workers and peasants. They can be considered to be the National Militia which Primo de Rivera always wanted for his UPE, and are mostly loyal to the UPE over the Crown, which is not much of a difference in practice as of current, but if the UPE were to abruptly change course soon, they would surely follow it instead. They are about as hated as the Civil Guard by everyone.

The Guardia Civil are the main rural police force of Spain. They are better equipped than the Somaten (and even have more armored cars than the Army), generally reactionary (and disloyal or even hateful of the local populace, due to units being deployed in areas of the country far from where they were raised), and are, naturally, loyal to the government as a general organization. However, they are also rather infiltrated by the Requetés, Integralistas, and Republicanos, not to a crippling extent, but to the extent where it would be a good idea to remove them if the Kingdom were to ever stabilize themselves to be able to get around to it.

It is unclear who will come out on top by the end of this historic year of 1936. What is clear, in all, is this: Spain is in utter disarray, disorientation, and discontent. Spain will put out these sparks efficiently and quickly, or Spain will be in flames and burn like only the most illuminating of cathedrals.

Let us then, have a toast, and a song. Dos onzas de cogñac, dos onzas de sidra, y hielo en cubos. Crush the ice and mix in a glass, put on our song, and what do we have?

España en llamas,

Yo escucho a tu bella guitarra,

Al verte sufriendo,

¡Prepárate a enderezar la!

España, habla tu ritmo glorioso,

¡Se siente la justicia y la igualdad!

España, habla tu ritmo glorioso,

¡España ganarás tu libertad!

TL;DR: Spain this season will be an NPC, but will be heavily open to all kinds of foreign influence, principally from Nat-France and Red France, but for the most part all major powers & regional powers/neighbors can have their hand in guiding the crisis, such as Portugal, the Italies, possibly Morocco, etc. It will not have a Civil War unless things go very, very wrong with the influence minigame.

If there are any questions as to the lore or nature of the influence game, or suggested changes before the season starts, please put them in comments below. Please at least skim the lore as in several places it differs from established rework lore, while still generally sticking to it.