Did the Spanish armed forces modernise between 1891 and 1935? An analy- sis from the point of view of expenditure

Abstract

This article explores whether the Spanish armed forces were modernized between 1891 and 1935. To this end, the expenditure of the military ministries (Army and Navy) is analyzed, disaggregated between expenditure on material and expenditure on personnel. An increase in the relative weight of material spending is considered an indication of modernization. Accor- ding to this, throughout the period studied, the armed forces did modernize, although the Navy did so with greater intensity than the Army. This advance coincided with a reduction in officer staff and was suited to the reconstruction plans of the Navy and the investment in new wea- pons for the Army, largely driven by the war in Morocco.