IN this, and the next issue, Bob Pennington will describe how the Spanish Socialist Party confronted the last of the workers revolutions that took place in the years between 1917 and 1944.
Historical guide 1872 Small group of supporters of Marx expelled by anarchists from Spanish branch of Ist Internanional 1879 Partido (Spanish Socialist Party founded.) 1881 With a membership of around 1,000 party 1888 Mora and Garcia Quejido form the Union General de Trabajadores (UGT) the trade union of the Socialist Party. Membership around 3,000. 1917 Series of revolutionary strikes across Spain. UGT, along with the anarchist 7720771 the Confederacion Trabajo (CNT) play organising the strikes. down the strikes and restores order. however than 200,000. 1921 Socialist Party decides by 8,880 against 6,025 not to affiliate to 3rd International. Mora and Garcia Quejido take nearly half of the party militants into Spanish Communist Party. other CNT leaders attracted to communism also join new Communist Party. 1923 Following military coup of General Miguel Primo de laborate in government. secretary general of the UGT becomes state councilor of Republican-Socialist ment by big majority. Monarchy abdicates. Largo Caballero Manuel Anzana and becomes Minister of Labour. Government persecution of CNT militants.
UGT has big growth. 1933 Victory the Republicans and Socialists out of office. Government attacks tions. Within one year over 100 issues of El Socialista seized. 1934 Second International estimates more than 12,000 workers have been imprisoned. The socialist militia meeting halls are closed. In October general Alliances, which Socialists, Left Communists.
Strike lasts 15 miners led by the socialists, in alliance with peasants, take over factories, set up revolulionary tribunals to try and fight Foreign troops for 15 days, by using dynamite from the mines. Five thousand Asturian workers give their lives, most slaughtered by troops after they have been forced to surrender, 80,000 imprisoned. 1935 Resistance of masses continues. On May Day a complete stoppage of work takes place. Enormous demandine an amnesty for prisoners. Large anti-fascist rallies are held calling for dissolution of Cortes and for fresh elections. play prominent role in these campaigns. 1936 As February election approaches left-wing Socialists oppose joint election ticket with Republicans. Indalecio Prieto, rival for leadership of the Socialist Party, and a confirmed moderate, along with the Communist Party Republicans a majority. As a result 152 Republican 116 for the workers' organisations.
Parliament announces voted for the Popular voted for the right and 449,320 for the Cenelected president. Caballero insists that new government is based on a bourgeois programme and that it is up to Republicans to carry out their own programme; Socialists could therefore do no more than give loyal support to the government by their votes. Socialist Party adopts Caballeros position against Prieto who wants Socialists to enter covernment.
war against the Republican government.
ocialist Challenge 17 December 1982 Democratico Socialista Obrero, flare up Nacional del promanent role in Army brutally puts UGT grows to a membership of more Andres Nin, Maurin and Rivera, socialists invited to colLargo Caballero, governout bitter Curres Meanwhile Tight In -EnP worker's proscribed, workers UGT and the Worker consist mainly of Communist Party members and Anarchists refuse to join. days. In Asturias the Communists give land to the workers enteres and Moorish campaign launched all political Socialist party and UGT Caballero's agrees give the deputies are returned against that 4,838,449 Front. 3,996,931 Manuel Azana a liberal Republican On 18 July 1936 fascists begin civil