 Nyorai kupfuurira kweiyi ndima - Muna 1930, mauto eRepublican eSpain akanyorerana Chibvumirano cheSan Sebastián, chichitungamirira kuRepublic yechipiri yeSpain. Kusagadzikana nokudzvinyirira hazvina kumira nehurumende itsva yezvematongerwe enyika, uye chiito chikuru chebasa chakadanwa kanoverengeka nemasangano anokwidziridzwa eanarchist, emakomonisiti uye echikamu. Kubvuta kwechiuto kwa1936 kwakatanga kukundwa nekuramba, kwakatungamirwa neBasque Nationalists, anarchists uye makomonisiti, asi gare gare gore rimwe chetero dunhu rakawira kumauto eSpanish Nationalist panguva yeNorthern Campaign. Kugara kwacho kwakava nenjodzi kuvagari veguta racho. Pakati pa1936 na1943, vanhu 485 vakaurawa somuuyo wemiedzo yokuratidzira yakaitwa navaNationalist veSpain Requetés navaFalangists. Kwakanga kwafungidzirwa kuti kuurawa kunze kwokutonga paseos nemauto anobata nharaunda akaverengera kuponda kunopfuura 600 munharaunda mukati memwedzi yokutanga yekubata. Vana vakawanda vakaendeswa kunzvimbo dzakachengeteka kwenguva pfupi muBilbao, uye vanhu vomuguta racho vakaderera nevanenge 40 000 kusvika ku50 000. 