ABSTRACT
On 17 July 1936, sectors of the Civil Guard and of the Regulares Indígenas (native infantry) in Melilla began the uprising against the republican regime. This military coup, which seemed to confirm the catastrophic predictions made on the very next day after the elections, was unable to achieve its desired objectives. Confidence in the rapid triumph of the rebellion evaporated when the rebels were defeated in the majority of large cities. An alliance between the security forces loyal to the Republic and activists of the political and union organisations played a fundamental role in the crushing of the rebellion in Barcelona, Madrid, Málaga, Valencia, Gijón and San Sebastian. Where, on the other hand, this alliance was not created (as in Seville and in Cordoba) or where the Civil and Assault Guards supported the rebels (Zaragoza and Valladolid, for example), the struggle was very one-sided and was quickly settled in favour of the rebel forces.1
