ABSTRACT
The twelve turbulent months from mid-July 1936 showed significant, though not decisive, advances against the Republic by the rebel forces of Mola and Franco. These victories followed their initial failure to seize power in a coordinated coup throughout Spain. They had been successful in areas that centred on Pamplona in Navarre, Vitoria in the neighbouring Basque province of Alava, Zaragoza in Aragón, Burgos in Old Castile, Valladolid in León and La Coruña in Galicia. In the south of Spain, in Andalucía, their prizes, again often after fierce initial resistance, included Seville, Granada, Cádiz and Córdoba. The rebel insurgents, or Nationalists (Nacionales) also controlled Morocco, the Canaries and the Balearic Islands (except for Minorca). Their forces now proceeded to take Badajoz (Estremadura) in August, and Toledo (New Castile) and San Sebastián (in the agriculture- and industry-rich Basque province of Guipúzcoa) in September. In October the Republican siege of Oviedo, capital of Asturias, was lifted.
