José Luis de Arrese
Encyclopedia
José Luis de Arrese y Marga (1905, Bilbao
– 1986) was a leading Spanish
politician with both the Falange
and its successor movement the Spanish Traditionalist Phalanx of the Assemblies of National-Syndicalist Offensive.
, Arrese was one of the first to propose the creation of the Blue Division
to support the Nazi war effort. On the 20th May 1941 in an attempt to appeal to Adolf Hitler
, who was still enjoying much success in World War II
at the time, Arrese was one of three extremists appointed to the cabinet by Francisco Franco
, in this case to the position of General Secretary of the Movement. The appointment was a shrewd one by Franco as, although Arrese was identified with the Old Shirt tendency, he also had a strong personal loyalty to El Caudillo. Arrese retained his strong interest in Nazism and in January 1943 he made a visit to Nazi Germany
where he met with Adolf Hitler
and Joachim von Ribbentrop
and inspected German
aircraft and building projects. This was to be the last formal contact between Spain and Germany before the fall of Hitler. On the 20th July 1945 Arrese was removed from his position, his appointment no longer politically expedient, and indeed the role was left symbolically vacant in an attempt to disassociate the Franco regime from fascism
.
as the leader of the paramilitary Blue Shirts, although in truth the role had lost much of its importance as both the Army and the Monarchists had grown in power at the expense of the traditional Falangists. In attempt to regain control for the Falangists he approached Franco the following year with a new draft constitution that would enshrine totalitarianism
in Spain and threatened to resign if it was denied. Franco however rejected the move, endorsing a much more pro-monarchy document and, in a cabinet reshuffle, handing Arrese the humiliation of the very minor portfolio of Minister of Housing. By 1960 Arrese had disappeared from any governmental role.
Bilbao
Bilbao ) is a Spanish municipality, capital of the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country. With a population of 353,187 , it is the largest city of its autonomous community and the tenth largest in Spain...
– 1986) was a leading Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
politician with both the Falange
Falange
The Spanish Phalanx of the Assemblies of the National Syndicalist Offensive , known simply as the Falange, is the name assigned to several political movements and parties dating from the 1930s, most particularly the original fascist movement in Spain. The word means phalanx formation in Spanish....
and its successor movement the Spanish Traditionalist Phalanx of the Assemblies of National-Syndicalist Offensive.
Early career and Nazism
An architect by profession, Arrese identified himself with the camisa vieja tendency, although he did not actually join the Falange until 1936 and so was on the cusp of qualifying for such a title. An enthusiastic supporter of NazismNazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
, Arrese was one of the first to propose the creation of the Blue Division
Blue Division
The Blue Division officially designated as División Española de Voluntarios by the Spanish Army and 250. Infanterie-Division in the German Army, was a unit of Spanish volunteers that served in the German Army on the Eastern Front of the Second World War.-Origins:Although Spanish leader Field...
to support the Nazi war effort. On the 20th May 1941 in an attempt to appeal to Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
, who was still enjoying much success in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
at the time, Arrese was one of three extremists appointed to the cabinet by Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco y Bahamonde was a Spanish general, dictator and head of state of Spain from October 1936 , and de facto regent of the nominally restored Kingdom of Spain from 1947 until his death in November, 1975...
, in this case to the position of General Secretary of the Movement. The appointment was a shrewd one by Franco as, although Arrese was identified with the Old Shirt tendency, he also had a strong personal loyalty to El Caudillo. Arrese retained his strong interest in Nazism and in January 1943 he made a visit to Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
where he met with Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
and Joachim von Ribbentrop
Joachim von Ribbentrop
Ulrich Friedrich Wilhelm Joachim von Ribbentrop was Foreign Minister of Germany from 1938 until 1945. He was later hanged for war crimes after the Nuremberg Trials.-Early life:...
and inspected German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
aircraft and building projects. This was to be the last formal contact between Spain and Germany before the fall of Hitler. On the 20th July 1945 Arrese was removed from his position, his appointment no longer politically expedient, and indeed the role was left symbolically vacant in an attempt to disassociate the Franco regime from fascism
Fascism
Fascism is a radical authoritarian nationalist political ideology. Fascists seek to rejuvenate their nation based on commitment to the national community as an organic entity, in which individuals are bound together in national identity by suprapersonal connections of ancestry, culture, and blood...
.
Return to influence
He enjoyed a return of sorts in 1956 when Franco dismissed Raimundo Fernández-CuestaRaimundo Fernández-Cuesta
Raimundo Fernández-Cuesta y Merelo was a leading Spanish politician with both the Falange and its successor movement the Spanish Traditionalist Phalanx of the Assemblies of National-Syndicalist Offensive....
as the leader of the paramilitary Blue Shirts, although in truth the role had lost much of its importance as both the Army and the Monarchists had grown in power at the expense of the traditional Falangists. In attempt to regain control for the Falangists he approached Franco the following year with a new draft constitution that would enshrine totalitarianism
Totalitarianism
Totalitarianism is a political system where the state recognizes no limits to its authority and strives to regulate every aspect of public and private life wherever feasible...
in Spain and threatened to resign if it was denied. Franco however rejected the move, endorsing a much more pro-monarchy document and, in a cabinet reshuffle, handing Arrese the humiliation of the very minor portfolio of Minister of Housing. By 1960 Arrese had disappeared from any governmental role.