Editing Spanish protectorate in Morocco (section)

===Spanish Civil War===
{{further|Spanish Civil War|Regulares}}
The [[Spanish Civil War]] started in 1936 with the [[Spanish coup of July 1936|partially successful coup]] against the Republican Government, which began in Spanish Morocco by an uprising of the [[Army of Africa (Spain)|Spanish Army of Africa]] stationed there, although within a day uprisings in Spain itself broke out. This force, which included a considerable number of Moroccan troops ([[regulares]]), was under the command of [[Francisco Franco]] (who spent much time in Morocco) and became the core of the [[Nationalist faction (Spanish Civil War)|Spanish Nationalist Army]]. The [[Communist Party of Spain]] and [[POUM|Workers' Party of Marxist Unification]] (POUM), advocated [[anti-colonialist|anti-colonial]] policies, and pressured the [[Second Spanish Republic|Republican government]] to support the independence of Spanish Morocco, intending to create a rebellion at Franco's back and cause disaffection among his Moroccan troops. The government – then led by the [[Spanish Socialist Workers' Party]] (PSOE) — rejected that course of action as it would have likely resulted in conflict with France, the colonial ruler of the other portion of Morocco.<ref>''Tres años de lucha'', [[José Díaz (politician)|José Díaz]]; p. 343; cited in ''Spain! The Unfinished Revolution''; by [[Arthur H. Landis|Landis, Arthur H]]; 1st ed.; New York: International Publishers; 1975; pp. 189–92; retrieved 2015</ref>

Because the locally recruited Muslim regulares had been among Franco's most effective troops, the protectorate enjoyed more political freedom and autonomy than [[Francoist Spain]]-proper after Franco's victory.<ref>Marin Miguel (1973). ''El Colonialismo español en Marruecos''. Spain: Ruedo Iberico p. 24-26</ref> The area held competing political parties and a Moroccan nationalist press, which often criticized the Spanish government.