Regional Defence Council of Aragon

Regional Defence Council of Aragon
Consejo Regional de Defensa de Aragón
Consello Rechional d'Esfensa d'Aragón
Autonomous entity of the Second Spanish Republic

1936–1937
Flag Coat of arms
Motto
Honor y Justicia (Honour and Justice)
Territory controlled and administered by the CRDA (in red) within Republican Spain (in pink)
Capital Fragaa (until December 1936)
Caspea (from December 1936)
Government Anarchist communism
President
 - 1936-1937 Joaquín Ascaso
Historical era Spanish Civil War
 - Established 6 October 1936[1]
 - Legalized by the Second Spanish Republic government 23 December 1936[2]
 - Dissolved by the Second Spanish Republic government 10 August 1937[2]
 - Disestablished 11 August 1937[3]
Today part of Spain
a. Administrative capital

The Regional Defence Council of Aragon (Spanish: Consejo Regional de Defensa de Aragón (CRDA), Aragonese: Consello Rechional d'Esfensa d'Aragón), was an administrative entity created by the Confederación Nacional del Trabajo in the context of the Spanish Revolution, and during the Spanish civil war. Until its dissolution, the CRDA controlled and administered the eastern half of Aragon.

Composition

According to the CRDA bulletin nº 12, from 21 December 1936, the council composition was as follows:[4]

Cabinet Position Office Holder Political Party or Trade Union
President Joaquín Ascaso CNT
Public Order Adolfo Ballano CNT
Information & Propaganda Evaristo Viñuales CNT
Agriculture Adolfo Arnal CNT
Labor Miguel Chueca CNT
Transport & Communications Luis Montoliu CNT
Economy & Supplies Evelio Martínez CNT
Justice José Ignacio Mantecón IR
Finance Jesús Gracia IR
Culture Manuel Latorre UGT
Public Works José Ruiz Borao UGT
Health & Social Assistance José Duque PCE
Industry & Commerce Custodio Peñarrocha PCE
General Secretary Benito Pabón PS

History

Disbandment

The independence with which the Regional Council acted had always been an irritant for the republican authorities. Thus, after having re-established its control over Catalonia, the Spanish Republican government, backed by its republican, socialist and communist sectors, was determined to disband this Aragonese entity.[5] Finally on 4 August Indalecio Prieto, the National Defense Minister, ordered the Spanish Republican Army to intervene and the 11th Division, led by Enrique Líster was sent to Aragon, officially disbanding the Aragon Council (Consejo de Aragón) on 10 August.[2] Joaquín Ascaso and various anarchist members of the Regional Defence Council of Aragon were arrested under various charges, such as jewel smuggling. A total of about 700 anarchists ended up being arrested in those days in Aragon.[5]

References

  1. A Study of the Revolution in Spain. Chapter 4 - October 1936 by Stuart Christie
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Gaceta de la República: Diario Oficial núm. 223, (11 de agosto de 1937) (Spanish)
  3. La sentencia que nunca vió la luz. Versus “La Rosaleda” Elguadalope.es (Spanish)
  4. Ascaso, Joaquín (2006). Memorias (1936-1938): hacia un nuevo Aragón. Zaragoza: Alejandro R. Díez Torre. p. 63. ISBN 84-7733-836-1. Retrieved 7 October 2013. (Spanish)
  5. 5.0 5.1 Hugh Thomas, (1976). Historia de la Guerra Civil Española. Barcelona: Círculo de Lectores. ISBN 84-226-0873-1.; p. 780-781

External links

Coordinates: 41°14′N 0°02′W / 41.233°N 0.033°W