Diego Hidalgo y Durán
Encyclopedia
Diego Hidalgo y Durán was a Spanish intellectual entrepreneur, and Minister of War during the Second Spanish Republic
(1931-1936).
(Extremadura
) in a family of aristocratic descent, Diego Hidalgo had to make a living early as his family had no lands and his father died when he was young. After studying law, he passed the state exam to become a notary, and started supporting his mother and four siblings.
Hidalgo was a Republican (even though he had rights to two titles of Marquis, given up by his grandfather, Diego Hidalgo y Solís). One of the drafters of the Constitutions of the Second Spanish Republic in 1931, and a member of the Partido Radical presided by Lerroux, Hidalgo became Minister of War in 1934. When serving as Minister, Hidalgo chose Francisco Franco (who was later going to be lead nationalist Spain during the civil war and be a dictator for nearly forty years) as one of his advisers. Hidalgo ordered Franco to stop the asturian miners' strike of 1934
. Although Franco would later reveal to be very far ideologically from Hidalgo, he kept affection for him, and Hidalgo was one of the only people who disagreed with Franco to whom the dictator would still dare listen.
During the Spanish civil war
(1936-1939), Diego Hidalgo had to flee from Spain, where he was threatened both by Francoists and Republicans. He spent most of the war in France where he married Gerda Schnur, the daughter of German industrialist David Schnur.
Back in Spain in 1938, Hidalgo continued his activities as a lawyer, notary, and writer. Notably, he saved 39 political prisoners from being executed, proving their innocence. Hidalgo was also a member of the International Tribunal of the Hague.
Diego Hidalgo y Durán was the father of the Spanish intellectual and philanthropist Diego Hidalgo Schnur
.
Second Spanish Republic
The Second Spanish Republic was the government of Spain between April 14 1931, and its destruction by a military rebellion, led by General Francisco Franco....
(1931-1936).
Biography
Born in Los Santos de MaimonaLos Santos de Maimona
Los Santos de Maimona is a municipality in the province of Badajoz, Extremadura, Spain. It has a population of 8,036 and an area of 109,02 km²....
(Extremadura
Extremadura
Extremadura is an autonomous community of western Spain whose capital city is Mérida. Its component provinces are Cáceres and Badajoz. It is bordered by Portugal to the west...
) in a family of aristocratic descent, Diego Hidalgo had to make a living early as his family had no lands and his father died when he was young. After studying law, he passed the state exam to become a notary, and started supporting his mother and four siblings.
Hidalgo was a Republican (even though he had rights to two titles of Marquis, given up by his grandfather, Diego Hidalgo y Solís). One of the drafters of the Constitutions of the Second Spanish Republic in 1931, and a member of the Partido Radical presided by Lerroux, Hidalgo became Minister of War in 1934. When serving as Minister, Hidalgo chose Francisco Franco (who was later going to be lead nationalist Spain during the civil war and be a dictator for nearly forty years) as one of his advisers. Hidalgo ordered Franco to stop the asturian miners' strike of 1934
Asturian miners' strike of 1934
The Asturian miners' strike of 1934 was a major strike action which took place in Asturias in northern Spain soon developing into armed insurrection against the Spanish government.-Background:...
. Although Franco would later reveal to be very far ideologically from Hidalgo, he kept affection for him, and Hidalgo was one of the only people who disagreed with Franco to whom the dictator would still dare listen.
During the Spanish civil war
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
(1936-1939), Diego Hidalgo had to flee from Spain, where he was threatened both by Francoists and Republicans. He spent most of the war in France where he married Gerda Schnur, the daughter of German industrialist David Schnur.
Back in Spain in 1938, Hidalgo continued his activities as a lawyer, notary, and writer. Notably, he saved 39 political prisoners from being executed, proving their innocence. Hidalgo was also a member of the International Tribunal of the Hague.
Diego Hidalgo y Durán was the father of the Spanish intellectual and philanthropist Diego Hidalgo Schnur
Diego Hidalgo Schnur
Diego Hidalgo Schnur is a Spanish philanthropist, intellectual and businessman. He is the son of Diego Hidalgo y Durán , who was a prominent jurist, author, intellectual and Minister of War under the Second Republic of Spain , and of Gerda Schnur de Hidalgo , also an intellectual who lived in Paris...
.
Major writings by Diego Hidalgo y Durán
- Un notario español en Rusia, 1929.
- ¿Por qué fui lanzado del ministerio de la guerra?: diez meses de actuación ministerial, 1934.
- , 1947.
- José Antonio de Saravia: de estudiante extremeño a general de los ejércitos del Zar, 1936.