Asturias Uprising (October 1934)

The uprising in Asturias, a small mining region, was the most dramatic part of the PSOE's failed 'October Revolution' against the new right-wing coalition government.

Revolution

Workers from a range of left-wing trade unions joined the revolt against the inclusion of CEDA ministers in the cabinet, working together to fight local authorities (including the police and the Civil Guard) to establish control of the province. By October 6th, the workers had successfully taken control of Oviedo, Asturias' provincial capital.

Revolutionaries were quick to turn against their enemies. A total of 58 churches were burnt; businessmen were held hostage and 31 right-wing supporters and clergy-men were murdered, often in the most barbaric of ways.

Suppression of the Revolution

The brutal suppression of the revolution in Asturias was coordinated by Francisco Franco.

• 20,000 troops were sent into the region, many had previously served in the notorious Army of Africa
• The Spanish Navy was authorised the bomb Austrias' main towns and cities
• 1,400 people were killed and nearly 3,000 injured in the fighting, most were revolutionaries

The revolutionaries surrendered on 19th October 1934, however, the army continued to take action against the workers. Thousands of trade union members lost their jobs or were imprisoned; prisoners were tortured and suspected conspirators were executed without trial. In addition, the government:

• Suspended Catalan autonomy
• Began arresting leading left-wing politicians, including former prime-minister Manuel Azana, even if they had nothing to do with the Asturias uprising.

Consequences of the Asturias Revolution:

• The Spanish middle-class moved to the right, fearing that left-wing groups were becoming increasingly radical and were therefore a threat to middle-class privilege and property.
• Some CEDA members, including leader Jose Maria Gil Robles, became more extreme in their political beliefs. Gil-Robles began praising the fascist dictatorships of Hitler and Mussolini and claimed that only a 'totalitarian polity' could protect Spain from the threat of a left-wing revolution.
• CEDA was also able to push for greater influence within government. In May 1935, Gil-Robles was appointed as minister for war and he immediately began military preparations for another left-wing revolution.
• On the left, the failure of the revolution convinced many of the need to try and win power by democratic means. The cooperation of left-wing groups during the rising opened up the possibility of creating a left-wing electoral alliance - this would eventually come to fruition in January 1936 with the formation of the Popular Front.