Unión Militar Española
Encyclopedia
Unión Militar Española was a secret society of Spanish Army
officers involved in a conspiracy to bring about the restoration of the monarchy during the 1930s. They were part of the nationalist forces during the Spanish Civil War
.
. Tarduchy, who had been a partisan for the Falange
under Miguel Primo de Rivera
, was seen as too sectarian and soon replaced by Captain Bartolomé Barba Hernández. The group soon established cells within many garrisons, although its influence was somewhat limited as it only really attracted younger, lower-ranked officers.
made direct contact with the group through his ally and UME member Valentín Galarza Morante
and made them part of his own plans. Franco would later claim that the main reason for the contact was so as he could ensure that the officers did not launch a premature coup themselves. By early 1936 the UME had placed itself at the disposal of Emilio Mola
and was a full participant in nationalist coup plans. Its membership was now estimated at almost half of all serving officers and included many who held dual membership with the Falange.
, were both killed. The murders, and the reprisal killing of José Calvo Sotelo
, were instrumental in bringing about the war itself. During the civil war itself the UME hardened its approach and became closely associated with fascism
. The group disappeared after the war.
Spanish Army
The Spanish Army is the terrestrial army of the Spanish Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is one of the oldest active armies - dating back to the 15th century.-Introduction:...
officers involved in a conspiracy to bring about the restoration of the monarchy during the 1930s. They were part of the nationalist forces 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...
.
Formation
This clandestine group was founded in late 1933 by Colonel Emilio Rodríguez Tarduchy and soon linked up with the conspiracies of Juan Antonio AnsaldoJuan Antonio Ansaldo
Juan Antonio Ansaldo y Vejerano was a Spanish aviator and monarchist activist and conspirator. A great admirer of Charles Maurras and Action Française, he flirted with various shades of far right politics before and during the Spanish Civil War....
. Tarduchy, who had been a partisan for 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....
under Miguel Primo de Rivera
Miguel Primo de Rivera
Miguel Primo de Rivera y Orbaneja, 2nd Marquis of Estella, 22nd Count of Sobremonte, Knight of Calatrava was a Spanish dictator, aristocrat, and a military official who was appointed Prime Minister by the King and who for seven years was a dictator, ending the turno system of alternating...
, was seen as too sectarian and soon replaced by Captain Bartolomé Barba Hernández. The group soon established cells within many garrisons, although its influence was somewhat limited as it only really attracted younger, lower-ranked officers.
Conspiracies
It was late summer 1935 before Francisco FrancoFrancisco 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...
made direct contact with the group through his ally and UME member Valentín Galarza Morante
Valentín Galarza Morante
Colonel Valentín Galarza Morante was a Spanish officer and right wing politician. He was associated with the monarchist tendency within the Falange Española Tradicionalista y de las Juntas de Ofensiva Nacional-Sindicalista and was critical of the Falange.-Conspiracies:An early supporter of José...
and made them part of his own plans. Franco would later claim that the main reason for the contact was so as he could ensure that the officers did not launch a premature coup themselves. By early 1936 the UME had placed itself at the disposal of 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:...
and was a full participant in nationalist coup plans. Its membership was now estimated at almost half of all serving officers and included many who held dual membership with the Falange.
Involvement in the Civil War
The group maintained a list of leading republican officers to be assassinated and in the build up to the war the top two names, Carlos Faraudo and José del CastilloJosé Castillo (Spanish Civil War)
José del Castillo Sáez de Tejada or José Castillo was a Spanish Police Guardia de Asalto lieutenant during the Second Spanish Republic...
, were both killed. The murders, and the reprisal killing of José Calvo Sotelo
José Calvo Sotelo
José Calvo Sotelo, 1st Duke of Calvo Sotelo was a Spanish politician prior to and during the Second Spanish Republic...
, were instrumental in bringing about the war itself. During the civil war itself the UME hardened its approach and became closely associated with 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...
. The group disappeared after the war.