February has been a key month in the history of Spain, marked by events that impacted the country's politics, society, and military defense.
From decisive episodes of the Spanish Civil War to advances in regional autonomy, this month has left its mark on the collective memory.
Below are verifiable historical facts, arranged chronologically, with their causes, development, and consequences.
1937 — The Málaga–Almería Road Massacre (La Desbandá)
Between February 6 and 8, 1937, after the fall of Málaga to the Nationalist faction, thousands of civilians began their retreat toward Almería along the N-340 road, known as La Desbandá.
During the flight, the column of refugees was attacked from land, sea, and air by Francoist troops and Italian and German forces, causing between 3,000 and 5,000 civilian casualties.
The magnitude of the tragedy, with an exodus of between 100,000 and 150,000 people, evidences the humanitarian impact of the war and the repression exerted on the civilian population in Republican Spain.
La Desbandá is considered one of the bloodiest episodes of the conflict, reflecting the indiscriminate violence against civilians and the military context of the Civil War.
1939 — Surrender of Menorca
Toward the end of the Civil War, between February 4 and 9, 1939, Menorca, the last Republican stronghold in the Balearic Islands, surrendered to Francoist forces following negotiations mediated by the British government.
Republican captain Luis González de Ubieta managed the peaceful handover of the island, allowing Republican officers and civilians to board the HMS Devonshire for Marseille.
This event marked the end of Republican control in the Balearics and facilitated the transition to Francoist occupation without massive bloodshed, weeks before the official end of the war in April 1939.
1958 — Military operations in Ifni
In February 1958, during the Ifni War, Spain carried out offensive operations in Spanish Sahara and the territory of Ifni to curb incursions by Moroccan armed groups.
After Morocco's independence in 1956, the new State claimed sovereignty over Ifni and areas of Western Africa under Spanish control.
The February actions consolidated Spanish defensive positions and prepared the negotiations that would culminate in the Treaty of Angra de Cintra, establishing the cession of part of the Spanish Sahara.
The offensive reflects the strategic importance of the enclave and the context of African decolonization in the postwar period.
1980 — Andalusia Autonomy Referendum
On February 28, 1980, the Andalusian citizenry voted in a referendum to approve the Statute of Autonomy of Andalusia, a fundamental step in the construction of the State of Autonomies.
With 94.19% affirmative votes, the result allowed the community's self-government process to begin, consolidating its integration into the framework of the 1978 Constitution.
This milestone represents the democratic expression of regional will and the development of autonomy in Spain, serving as a reference in the country's territorial and political organization.
1981 — Attempted coup d'état
On February 23, 1981, Lieutenant Colonel Antonio Tejero Molina stormed the Congress of Deputies during the investiture vote for Leopoldo Calvo-Sotelo as Prime Minister.
Simultaneously, Lieutenant General Jaime Milans del Bosch mobilized troops in Valencia.
The coup failed due to the lack of support from the majority of the Armed Forces and the firm intervention of King Juan Carlos I, who defended the 1978 Constitution in a televised message.
The surrender of the coup plotters occurred in the early hours of February 24, consolidating Spanish democracy and institutional legitimacy.
