Adolfo Prada Vaquero (1883–1962) was a military officer of the

Spanish Army The Spanish Army ( es, Ejército de Tierra, lit=Land 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 late 15th century. The ...

. He remained loyal to the Republican government during the Spanish Civil War. In December 1936, Prada led a division in the

Second Battle of the Corunna Road The Second Battle of the Corunna Road ( es, Batalla de la Carretera de Coruña) was a battle of the Spanish Civil War that took place from 13 December 1936 to 15 January 1937, northwest of Madrid. In December 1936, the Nationalists launched an ...

. In August 1937 he led an Army corps in Cantabria, and on August 29 he was appointed supreme commander of the Republican Army of the North (60,000 men), replacing General Gámir. He tried to reorganize the Republican forces and shot three brigade commanders in order to maintain discipline. However, he could not stop the Nationalist offensive against Asturias and on October 18 he fled from Asturias in order to avoid capture by the Nationalists. On 7 November 1937 he was made commander of the newly established Andalusian Army, a post he held until 14 March 1938. Following the disaster of the

Battle of Merida pocket The battle of the Mérida pocket, also known as the closing of the Mérida pocket ( es, Cierre de la bolsa de Mérida), was an action that took place during the Spanish Civil War in July 1938 in La Serena zone of Badajoz Province. A swift and de ...

he was made commander of the

Extremaduran Army The Extremaduran Army ( es, Ejército de Extremadura), was a military formation of the Spanish Republican Army during the last phase of the Spanish Civil War. It was part of the Central Region Army Group ''(GERC)''. The Republican forces deploy ...

on 31 July 1938, replacing Colonel

Ricardo Burillo Ricardo Burillo Stholle (27 March 1891 – 21 July 1939) was a Spanish police and military officer who played an important role during the Spanish Civil War. As the police chief in Barcelona, he was responsible for the repression and dismantling ...

who had been abruptly dismissed.Francisco Moreno Gómez. ''La Guerra civil en Córdoba (1936-1939).'' Alpuerto. 1985, p. 616 In March 1939, he supported Casado's coup and was appointed commander of the Army of the Centre. On 28 March, he surrendered to the Nationalists. He was sentenced to prison. He was released years later and died in Madrid in 1962.

References

;Works cited * 1883 births 1962 deaths Spanish colonels Spanish military personnel of the Spanish Civil War (Republican faction) Spanish Civil War prisoners of war {{spain-mil-bio-stub