Manuel Goded Llopis

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Manuel Goded Llopis
October 15, 1882 – August 12, 1936
General Manuel Goded Llopis
Place of birth	San Juan, Puerto Rico
Place of death	Barcelona, Spain
Allegiance	Spain
Service/branch	Spanish Army
Years of service	1900-1936
Rank	General of the Army
Commands held	Chief of Staff of the Spanish Army of Africa Chief of Staff of the Central Army
Battles/wars	Rif War *Battle of Alhucemas Spanish Civil War

General Manuel Goded Llopis (October 15, 1882 - August 12, 1936), was a high ranking Puerto Rican in the Spanish Army who was one of the first generales to join Spanish General Francisco Franco, in the revolt against the Spanish Republican government (also known as Spanish loyalists) in what is known as the Spanish Civil War. Previously, Goded Llopis had distinguished himself in the Battle of Alhucemas of the Rif War.

1 Early years
2 Military career
- 2.1 Rif War
3 Spanish Civil War
4 Aftermath
5 See also
6 Notes

[edit] Early years

Goded Llopis was born in San Juan, the capital of Puerto Rico, when the island was still a Spanish colony. There he received his primary and secondary education. His family moved to Spain when Puerto Rico became a possession of the United States as an outcome of the Treaty of Paris of 1898 which concluded the Spanish-American War. In Spain he enrolled and was accepted in the Academy of Infantry, a military institution.^[1]

[edit] Military career

Goded Llopis graduated from the academy and was assigned to various posts. In 1907, when was 25 years old, he held the rank of Captain.

[edit] Rif War

In 1919, a rebellion against Spanish colonial rule took place in Spanish Morocco, a Spanish protectorate. The rebel leader in what is also known as the Rif War, was Abd-el-Krim.^[2] The Riffians, as the rebels became known, annihilated the army of Spanish General Manuel Fernández Silvestre at the Battle of Annual in 1921 and were posed to attack the Spanish enclave of Melilla. Generals Jose Millan Astray and Francisco Franco, founders of the Spanish Foreign Legion, fought against the Riifians on land and in 1925, Goded Llopis lead an amphibious landing at Alhucemas Bay (now known as Al Hoceima Bay) in what is known as the Battle of Alhucemas. This was considered as the beginning of the end of the Rif Rebellion. By 1927, the rebellion had come to an end and Spain recaptured her lost territory.^[3] Goded Llopis was promoted to Brigadier General and shortly after was named Chief of Staff of the Spanish Army of Africa.

[edit] Spanish Civil War

At first Goded Llopis, was a supporter of Miguel Primo de Rivera, a military official who was appointed Prime Minister by King Alfonso XIII of Spain and who for seven years (1923-1930) was a dictator. Goded Llopis became a critic of Primo de Rivera's policies and was striped of his military position.^[4]

On May 1936, Dr. Manuel Azaña Díaz became the second and last President of the Second Spanish Republic. Goded Llopis, was named Chief of Staff of the Central Army, however it wasn't long before he confronted the Republicans who where in power and as a result of his disagreements with them was once again relieved of his position. On July 17, 1936, the nationalist-traditionalist rebellion long feared by some in the Popular Front government began. Its start was signaled by the phrase "Over all of Spain, the sky is clear" that was broadcast on the radio. Santiago Casares Quiroga, who had succeeded Azaña as prime minister, had in the previous weeks exiled the military officers suspected of conspiracy against the Republic, including General Manuel Goded Llopis and General Francisco Franco. They were sent to the Balearic Islands and to the Canary Islands, respectively. Both generals immediately took control of these islands.^[5]

Like all Spain, Asturias played its part in the events that led up to the Spanish Civil War. In 1934, the marxist workers' movement fought the right-wing government of the Second Spanish Republic in the Revolution of Asturias. For a month, a socialist republic was formed in Asturias, with a total Marxist administration. José María Gil-Robles y Quiñones, by order of Franco, sent for Goded Llopis with the mission of suppressing the rebellion. Troops were brought from the North African colonies to put down the rebellion. Goded Llopis was successful in his mission, thereby gaining Franco's confidence. He was then sent to the Balearic Islands in the position of Military Commander.^[6]

Catalonia is one of the most industrialised regions of Spain. It received its first statute of autonomy during the Second Spanish Republic. This period was marked by political unrest and the preeminence of the Anarchists during the Spanish Civil War. This resulted in a rebellion between two factions, between those who wanted more autonomy and those who were loyal to Franco and Spanish unity. Goded Llopis was sent to lead the fight against the Anarchists, but his troops were outnumbered and he was captured on August 11, 1936. ^[7]

[edit] Aftermath

Goded Llopis was held captive in the Steamship "Uruguay" where a trial was set by a military tribune of the Spanish Republic. Goded Llopis was forced to send a message to his troops via radio, to surrender.^[8] He was then condemned to die by firing squad the following day, August 12 on the grounds of the Montjuich Castle in Barcelona, where he is currently buried. ^[7]