The National Defence Council, acting on mounting tensions within the Republican leadership and facing an increasingly dire situation due to Francisco Franco's Nationalist forces, initiated a coup d'état in March 1939. With the Spanish Civil War approaching its final stages, internal discord among Republican factions made it clear that a more centralized command under the National Defence Council was necessary to stabilize the government and possibly negotiate peace. The leaders of this council, including prominent military figures and politicians, believed that seizing control was essential to avert further chaos and bloodshed.

Madrid became the focal point of this decisive moment. The National Defence Council, formed amidst the backdrop of the long and brutal conflict, was urgently seeking a way to end hostilities. They intended to open negotiations with Franco's regime, which had been steadily gaining ground, culminating in a growing recognition of their military successes over the Republicans. As the council implemented their coup, it sparked a fervent debate within Spain regarding the legitimacy of their actions and the prospects for peace.

The coup was an attempt to consolidate leadership, unify the fragmented Republican forces, and establish a coherent strategy in the face of imminent defeat. Despite their intentions, this maneuver ultimately did not alter the trajectory of the civil war, as Franco's forces continued their advance with little resistance.