Anarchist insurrection of January 1933

Quick Facts: Who was Anarchist insurrection of January 1933?

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Anarchist insurrection of January 1933

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Failed anarchist uprising in Spain in January 1933 against the Republican government.

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Origins & Early Life

The anarchist insurrection of January 1933 was an attempted revolution carried out by Spanish anarchists, with the intention of overthrowing the government of Spain and establishing libertarian communism. The suppression of the Alt Llobregat insurrection in January 1932 led to the arrest and deportation of numerous anarchists, as well as an internal split within the Confederación Nacional del Trabajo (CNT). The Iberian Anarchist Federation (FAI), which supported insurrectionary anarchism, gained control over the CNT, marginalising the moderate treintista faction. With the passage of new labour laws by the Republican government, the CNT's activities were repressed throughout the country and it went into a period of decline. But after contributing to the prevention of an attempted coup by General José Sanjurjo, the CNT experienced a resurgence in support and anarchist deportees were permitted to return to Spain.

Career & Major Achievements

Due to the slow, bureaucratic implementation of land reform and the regulation of trade unions by the new labour laws, workers' and peasants' dissatisfaction with the left-wing government increased. In December 1932, when the possibility of a general strike by railway workers arose, the Catalan anarchist Joan Garcia Oliver began planning another insurrection. A premature explosion of stockpiled grenades in Barcelona made the authorities aware of the planned insurrection. By the time the insurrection broke out on 8 January 1933, leading anarchists had been arrested and the police were on high alert throughout the city, resulting in the uprising being suppressed by the following morning. Insurrections subsequently broke out throughout Catalonia, Valencia, Aragon and Andalusia, but they were likewise suppressed.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

In the Andalusian town of Casas Viejas, Assault Guards carried out a massacre against the town's peasantry, killing both insurgents and uninvolved bystanders. In the suppression of the uprising, thousands of anarchists were imprisoned and dozens were killed. The insurrection provoked the treintistas to break off from the CNT and form the Opposition Unions. An investigation into the Casas Viejas incident found the government of Manuel Azaña culpable for the massacre, which caused it to lose support from the far-left and emboldened political opposition from the right-wing. A new right-wing government led by Alejandro Lerroux was subsequently elected, provoking the outbreak of the anarchist insurrection of December 1933.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1932: 1932 Milestone — The suppression of the Alt Llobregat insurrection in January 1932 led to the arrest and deportation of numerous anarchists, as well as an internal split within the Confederación Nacional del Trabajo (CNT).
2. 1933: 1933 Milestone — The anarchist insurrection of January 1933 was an attempted revolution carried out by Spanish anarchists, with the intention of overthrowing the government of Spain and establishing libertarian communism.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Anarchist insurrection of January 1933

True or False: “The primary cause of the failure of the January 1933 insurrection was the overwhelming military might of the Spanish state.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While military suppression occurred, the immediate trigger for the uprising was the Catalan anarchist Joan Garcia Oliver planning a revolt following the authorities' awareness due to an accidental explosion.

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.

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