Luis Orgaz Yoldi
Encyclopedia
Luis Orgaz Yoldi was a Spanish
general who was a leading figure on the Nationalist side in the Spanish Civil War
. He later went on to become a critic of the regime of Francisco Franco
and agitated for the restoration of the monarchy.
. As a consequence he was under a veil of suspicion during the tenure of Manuel Azaña
, leading to Orgaz being placed under house arrest and then exiled in the Canary Islands
in 1931. The suspicions were not groundless however as, like many leading monarchists in Spain at the time, Orgaz was involved in a number of plots aimed at a restoration. Close to General Emilio Mola
, Orgaz was one of a number of leading officers who joined the general in conspiracy against the Popular Front
government in early 1936.
's calls for a single leader for the Nationalist side. He was also quick to indicate his support for Francisco Franco for the role. Indeed, along with Kindelán, Nicolas Franco, José Millán Astray
and, from 1937, Ramón Serrano Súñer
, Orgaz formed a central part of Franco's most trusted confidantes in the early part of the war.
In December 1936 Orgaz was moved to command of the Central Front, although an early attempt to attack Republican positions was a failure due to the significant numerical advantage enjoyed by the International Brigades
in the area. A renewed offensive along the same lines in January 1937 resulted in a stalemate. He had official command at the Battle of Jarama
although in reality the orders to keep pressing, which resulted in extensive loss of life for both sides, came direct from Franco. With the Italians
highly critical of the command at Jarama Franco moved to placate them by relieving Orgaz of his command in favour of Andrés Saliquet Zumeta.
However the move was more cosmetic than a rebuke to Orgaz and Franco's faithful lieutenant returned to influence immeidately when he was tasked with organising the mass army required for the conflict. As a consequence he led a massive recruitment drive during the early months of 1937.
. However the two drifted apart and by 1941 Orgaz was openly discussing the possibility of military action against Franco, having realised that he had no intention of restoring the monarchy. By March 1942 rumours were rife that he, Kindelan and General Eugenio Espinosa de los Monteros were on the verge of launcing a monarchist coup. Events got so far that in August 1943 he initimated to Pedro Sainz Rodríguez
that he was ready to lead 100,000 men in open rebellion as long as the faction around Infante Juan, Count of Barcelona that Sainz led could ensure recognition from the Allies
.
Uncertain of how much support he had Orgaz abandoned his coup plans and instead took the lead in an army petition to Franco calling for restoration, presented on 13 September 1943 by General José Enrique Varela
. His change of position had also been heavily influenced by Franco pointing out to him that he had a dossier detailing a number of corrupt deals that Orgaz had brokered in North Africa, revelations that could potentially ruin the conspiratorial general.
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...
general who was a leading figure on the Nationalist side in 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...
. He later went on to become a critic of the regime of 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...
and agitated for the restoration of the monarchy.
Early years
From his earliest days Orgaz was a staunch advocate of monarchismMonarchism
Monarchism is the advocacy of the establishment, preservation, or restoration of a monarchy as a form of government in a nation. A monarchist is an individual who supports this form of government out of principle, independent from the person, the Monarch.In this system, the Monarch may be the...
. As a consequence he was under a veil of suspicion during the tenure of Manuel Azaña
Manuel Azaña
Manuel Azaña Díaz was a Spanish politician. He was the first Prime Minister of the Second Spanish Republic , and later served again as Prime Minister , and then as the second and last President of the Republic . The Spanish Civil War broke out while he was President...
, leading to Orgaz being placed under house arrest and then exiled in the Canary Islands
Canary Islands
The Canary Islands , also known as the Canaries , is a Spanish archipelago located just off the northwest coast of mainland Africa, 100 km west of the border between Morocco and the Western Sahara. The Canaries are a Spanish autonomous community and an outermost region of the European Union...
in 1931. The suspicions were not groundless however as, like many leading monarchists in Spain at the time, Orgaz was involved in a number of plots aimed at a restoration. Close to General Emilio Mola
Emilio Mola
Emilio Mola y Vidal, 1st Duke of Mola, Grandee of Spain was a Spanish Nationalist commander during the Spanish Civil War. He is best-known for having coined the term "fifth column".-Early life:...
, Orgaz was one of a number of leading officers who joined the general in conspiracy against the Popular Front
Popular Front (Spain)
The Popular Front in Spain's Second Republic was an electoral coalition and pact signed in January 1936 by various left-wing political organisations, instigated by Manuel Azaña for the purpose of contesting that year's election....
government in early 1936.
Civil war
Following the outbreak of the Civil War he was placed in command of the Nationalist forces in the Canary Islands. During the early stages of the Civil War he was one of the first leading figures to echo Alfredo KindelánAlfredo Kindelán
right|thumb|Kindelán in aviator uniformAlfredo Kindelán y Duany was a Spanish general and politician.-Early career:...
's calls for a single leader for the Nationalist side. He was also quick to indicate his support for Francisco Franco for the role. Indeed, along with Kindelán, Nicolas Franco, José Millán Astray
José Millán Astray
José Millán-Astray y Terreros was a Spanish soldier, the founder and first commander of the Spanish Foreign Legion, and a major early figure of Francisco Franco's Regime in Spain.- Early life :...
and, from 1937, Ramón Serrano Súñer
Ramón Serrano Súñer
Ramón Serrano Súñer , was a Spanish politician during the first stages of General Francisco Franco's dictatorship, the Spanish State, between 1938 and 1942, when he held the posts of President of the Political Junta Política of Falange Española Tradicionalista y de las JONS , and Interior and...
, Orgaz formed a central part of Franco's most trusted confidantes in the early part of the war.
In December 1936 Orgaz was moved to command of the Central Front, although an early attempt to attack Republican positions was a failure due to the significant numerical advantage enjoyed by the International Brigades
International Brigades
The International Brigades were military units made up of volunteers from different countries, who traveled to Spain to defend the Second Spanish Republic in the Spanish Civil War between 1936 and 1939....
in the area. A renewed offensive along the same lines in January 1937 resulted in a stalemate. He had official command at the Battle of Jarama
Battle of Jarama
The Battle of Jarama was an attempt by General Franco's Nationalists to dislodge the Republican lines along the river Jarama, just east of Madrid, during the Spanish Civil War...
although in reality the orders to keep pressing, which resulted in extensive loss of life for both sides, came direct from Franco. With the Italians
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
highly critical of the command at Jarama Franco moved to placate them by relieving Orgaz of his command in favour of Andrés Saliquet Zumeta.
However the move was more cosmetic than a rebuke to Orgaz and Franco's faithful lieutenant returned to influence immeidately when he was tasked with organising the mass army required for the conflict. As a consequence he led a massive recruitment drive during the early months of 1937.
Monarchist conspiracy
When Franco assumed control he named Orgaz as Alto Comisario and commander in chief in Spanish MoroccoSpanish Morocco
The Spanish protectorate of Morocco was the area of Morocco under colonial rule by the Spanish Empire, established by the Treaty of Fez in 1912 and ending in 1956, when both France and Spain recognized Moroccan independence.-Territorial borders:...
. However the two drifted apart and by 1941 Orgaz was openly discussing the possibility of military action against Franco, having realised that he had no intention of restoring the monarchy. By March 1942 rumours were rife that he, Kindelan and General Eugenio Espinosa de los Monteros were on the verge of launcing a monarchist coup. Events got so far that in August 1943 he initimated to Pedro Sainz Rodríguez
Pedro Sainz Rodríguez
Pedro Sainz Carlos Rodríguez was a Spanish writer, philologist, publisher and politician, an adviser to Infante Juan, Count of Barcelona and one of the main architects of the reign of Juan Carlos I of Spain and the Spanish transition to democracy...
that he was ready to lead 100,000 men in open rebellion as long as the faction around Infante Juan, Count of Barcelona that Sainz led could ensure recognition from the Allies
Allies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
.
Uncertain of how much support he had Orgaz abandoned his coup plans and instead took the lead in an army petition to Franco calling for restoration, presented on 13 September 1943 by General José Enrique Varela
José Enrique Varela
José Enrique Varela Iglesias was a Spanish military officer and Carlist noted for his role as a Nationalist commander in the Spanish Civil War.-Early career:...
. His change of position had also been heavily influenced by Franco pointing out to him that he had a dossier detailing a number of corrupt deals that Orgaz had brokered in North Africa, revelations that could potentially ruin the conspiratorial general.