Anarchist insurrection of December 1933

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Anarchist insurrection of December 1933

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Attempted anarchist revolution in Spain following the 1933 right-wing election victory.

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Origins & Early Life

The anarchist insurrection of December 1933 was an attempted revolution by Spanish anarchists, in response to the victory of the right-wing in the 1933 Spanish general election. It was the third of a series of anarchist insurrections in Spain, following those in January 1932 and January 1933. The insurrection was centred in Aragon and La Rioja, where revolutionaries took over the regional capitals and a number of small towns, proclaiming libertarian communism and destroying municipal documents. It was accompanied by smaller, isolated actions in towns and cities throughout Spain. In some cases, the insurrection occurred bloodlessly, while in others, violent clashes erupted between revolutionaries and the authorities.

Career & Major Achievements

It lasted for only a week, from 8 to 15 December, before it was suppressed by the Spanish Republican Army. Hundreds of insurgents were arrested and sentenced for crimes committed during the insurrection. The new right-wing government, led by Alejandro Lerroux, subsequently repealed many of the social reforms implemented by its predecessor. A general strike broke out in Zaragoza, demanding the release of imprisoned insurgents, but many were not released until after the 1936 Spanish general election. After the suppression of the anarchist insurrection of January 1933, and the killing of 22 people in the Casas Viejas massacre, the left-wing government of Manuel Azaña came under attack by both the right-wing and the far-left.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The Confederación Nacional del Trabajo (CNT), the country's anarcho-syndicalist trade union centre, called for the government to legalise its trade unions, recognise freedom of association and free political prisoners who had been detained during the insurrection. It spent the rest of the year protesting for these demands, holding a general strike in May 1933, after which they began preparing for the possibility of another insurrection. When President Niceto Alcalá-Zamora dissolved the Azaña government and called the 1933 Spanish general election, the Spanish anarchist movement was left with a dilemma. On the one hand, the CNT was committed to abstention from electoral politics. On the other, they were facing the rise of the far-right.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1932: 1932 Milestone — It was the third of a series of anarchist insurrections in Spain, following those in January 1932 and January 1933.
2. 1933: 1933 Milestone — The anarchist insurrection of December 1933 was an attempted revolution by Spanish anarchists, in response to the victory of the right-wing in the 1933 Spanish general election.
3. 1936: 1936 Milestone — A general strike broke out in Zaragoza, demanding the release of imprisoned insurgents, but many were not released until after the 1936 Spanish general election.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Anarchist insurrection of December 1933

True or False: “The primary catalyst for the December 1933 insurrection was the failure of the left-wing government to address rising unemployment.”

Answer (TRUE ⭕): Economic difficulties and high unemployment fueled worker mobilization, leading the CNT to prepare for revolutionary action against the perceived right-wing victory.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• 13th Dalai Lama — Historical peer (Died in 1933) (1933): Spiritual leader of Tibet who championed national independence and modernization.
• Abolhassan Banisadr — Historical peer (Born in 1933) (1933): Iranian politician who served as the first president following the Islamic Revolution.
• Abebe Bikila — Historical peer (Born in 1932) (1932): Ethiopian Olympic marathon champion, known for his barefoot victories in Rome and Tokyo.
• Adolfo Suárez — Historical peer (Born in 1932) (1932): Key architect of Spain's transition to democracy, serving as Prime Minister 1976-1981.
• A. E. Housman — Historical peer (Died in 1936) (1936): English classicist and poet, renowned for his scholarship and melancholic verse.
• A. S. Byatt — Historical peer (Born in 1936) (1936): Acclaimed English novelist, poet, and critic known for complex literary works.

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