The Paradox of the Revolutionary Strike

On this episode of our Spanish Civil War Interview Series I was joined by Dr. Matthew Kerry the author of Unite, Proletarian Brothers! Radicalism and Republicanism in the Second Spanish Republic which was released earlier this year. Our discussion focused on the events in Asturias, a region of Spain, in 1934. During October 1934, there would be a national strike throughout Spain, and in most areas this strike would be either quickly broken up or would rapidly burn itself out. However in Asturias the strike would morph into a true revolution and for two weeks Asturias would be under the control of revolutionary committees. In the end 1700 people would be killed in Asturias, and 260 members of the Spanish military. One of the topics that we touch on near the end and which I think is really important is the role that Asturias would play in Franco's narrative of imminent and very possible revolution during and after the events of the Civil War.

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