Editing Federica Montseny (section)

==Spanish Civil War and Minister of Health==
Following the [[Spanish coup of July 1936]], Montseny resolved to support the [[Republican faction (Spanish Civil War)|republican faction]] against the [[Nationalist faction (Spanish Civil War)|nationalists]], considering a [[united front]] of [[anti-fascism|anti-fascists]] to be necessary for the advancement of [[anarchism in Spain]].{{Sfn|Fredericks|1976|pp=75-76}} Despite her support for the republicans, she quickly came to reject the [[Red Terror (Spain)|violence in the republican-held territory]], which she described as "a lust for blood inconceivable in honest man before".{{Sfn|Beevor|2006|p=[https://archive.org/details/battleforspainsp0000beev/page/87 87]}}

In November 1936, [[Francisco Largo Caballero]] invited the anarchists to join the [[Government of Spain|Spanish government]], as they were the largest of the anti-fascist groups and the other parties of the [[Popular Front (Spain)|Popular Front]] wanted to neutralise their [[anti-statism]].{{Sfn|Beevor|2006|pp=169-170}} In an interview with Burnett Bolloten, Montseny explained that the principal impulse for the anarchists to join the government was their concern about the rise of the [[Communist Party of Spain|Communist Party]] to power, which they viewed as a threat to the [[Spanish Revolution of 1936|Revolution]].{{Sfn|Beevor|2006|p=170}} Despite her own misgivings about joining the government, Montseny was appointed as Minister of Health and Social Assistance, becoming the [[List of female ministers of Spain|first woman in Spanish history to be a cabinet minister]].{{Sfnm|1a1=Beevor|1y=2006|1p=170|2a1=Davies|2y=1998|2pp=137, 140|3a1=Fredericks|3y=1976|3pp=76-77|4a1=Thomas|4y=2001|4p=458}}

[[File:Hospital_Federica_Montseny_de_Murcia_01.jpg|thumb|left|The inauguration of Hospital Federica Montseny in [[Murcia]] (1937).]]
From her ministerial post, Montseny oversaw the country's medical facilities, which had been completely overwhelmed by the conditions of the war, requiring the construction of [[orphanage]]s and the provision of aid for refugees.{{Sfnm|1a1=Davies|1y=1998|1p=140|2a1=Fredericks|2y=1976|2p=76}} She also collaborated with the [[Mujeres Libres]] in the advancement of [[women's rights]], carrying out a series of wide-ranging reforms including:{{Sfnm|1a1=Davies|1y=1998|1p=140|2a1=Fredericks|2y=1976|2p=77}} the introduction of [[child care]] for [[women in the workforce]] and the [[Milicianas in the Spanish Civil War|militias]]; the provision of [[female education|women's education]] and [[Women's health|healthcare]]; and the [[Feminist views on prostitution#Arguments against prostitution|combatting]] of [[prostitution in Spain]].{{Sfn|Fredericks|1976|p=77}}

Soon after Montseny took office, on 6 November, the republican government moved to [[Valencia]], fearing that [[Madrid]] would fall to the [[Siege of Madrid|nationalist offensive]].{{Sfn|Beevor|2006|pp=170-171}} Montseny persuaded the anarchist militia leader [[Buenaventura Durruti]] to transfer from the Aragon front and defend the capital, where he fought and died at the [[Battle of Ciudad Universitaria]].{{Sfn|Beevor|2006|pp=179-181}} When the anarchists of Barcelona revolted during the [[May Days]], Montseny appealed on behalf of the government for the militias to lay down their arms.{{Sfnm|1a1=Beevor|1y=2006|1pp=265-266|2a1=Davies|2y=1998|2p=140}} But when she was unsuccessful, the government resolved to put down the anarchists by force, in what Montseny described as "the most terrible and bitter days of my life".{{Sfn|Beevor|2006|pp=265-266}} By the time that [[Juan Negrin]] had consolidated power, Montseny considered the war to have already been lost, and thought the only remaining action would be to save as many lives as possible.{{Sfn|Beevor|2006|pp=376-377}} Montseny subsequently left the cabinet and attempted to continue her efforts in uniting republican forces, but by 1938, the deterioration of the republican front had forced her to increasingly focus on feeding her family.{{Sfn|Fredericks|1976|p=77}}