Etelvino Vega Martínez (1906–1939) was a Spanish politician and military officer.

Life

In 1931, he was a member of the central committee of the

Communist Party of Spain The Communist Party of Spain (; PCE) is a communist party that, since 1986, has been part of the United Left coalition, which is currently part of Sumar. Two of its politicians are Spanish government ministers: Yolanda Díaz (Minister of L ...

(PCE). However in 1932, after the failed ''coup'' attempt by Sanjurjo, he broke with the Comintern's directives and supported the government of the

Second Spanish Republic The Spanish Republic (), commonly known as the Second Spanish Republic (), was the form of democratic government in Spain from 1931 to 1939. The Republic was proclaimed on 14 April 1931 after the deposition of Alfonso XIII, King Alfonso XIII. ...

famously coining the slogan “Defence of the Republic". As a result, he and other central committee members were expelled from the party. He subsequently spent time in the Soviet Union before returning to Spain. After the outbreak of the

Spanish Civil War The Spanish Civil War () was a military conflict fought from 1936 to 1939 between the Republican faction (Spanish Civil War), Republicans and the Nationalist faction (Spanish Civil War), Nationalists. Republicans were loyal to the Left-wing p ...

, he fought with the

Fifth Regiment The Fifth Regiment (, the full name ''Quinto Regimiento de Milicias Populares)'' was an elite corps loyal to the Spanish Republic at the onset of the Spanish Civil War. Made up of volunteers, the Fifth Regiment was active in the first critical p ...

on the

Somosierra front Somosierra is a municipality in the Community of Madrid, Spain, located at 83 km north of Madrid, in the mountain pass with the same name, at an elevation of 1433 metres above sea level, being the northernmost town of Community of Madrid ...

and later with the Popular Army in the

Battle of Guadalajara The Battle of Guadalajara (March 8–23, 1937) saw the victory of the Spanish Republican Army (''Ejército Popular Republicano'', or EPR) and of the International Brigades over the Italian and Nationalist forces attempting to encircle Madrid dur ...

. He subsequently led the 34th division of Heredia’s 18th

Army Corps Corps (; plural ''corps'' ; from French , from the Latin "body") is a term used for several different kinds of organization. A military innovation by Napoleon I, the formation was formally introduced March 1, 1800, when Napoleon ordered Gener ...

in the

Battle of Teruel The Battle of Teruel was fought in and around the city of Teruel during the Spanish Civil War between December 1937 and February 1938, during the worst Spanish winter in 20 years.Hugh Purcell, p. 95. The battle was one of the bloodiest actions of ...

and later commanded the 12th Army Corps in the Battle of Ebro. In March 1939, he was appointed military commander of

Alicante Alicante (, , ; ; ; officially: ''/'' ) is a city and municipalities of Spain, municipality in the Valencian Community, Spain. It is the capital of the province of Alicante and a historic Mediterranean Sea, Mediterranean port. The population ...

, but during Casado’s coup on 6 March, he was arrested by the supporters of Casado. After the end of the war, he was captured by the Nationalists at the

Port of Alicante The Port of Alicante is a seaport in Alicante, Spain on the Mediterranean Sea used for commercial and passenger traffic. The port is administered by the Port Authority of Alicante. References External links Official website Puertos del Estado ...

, then he was confined in Los Almendros concentration camp and

Albatera concentration camp Albatera () is a town and municipality located in the ''comarca'' of Vega Baja del Segura, in the province of Alicante, part of the Valencian Community, Spain. Albatera has an area of 66.5 km2 and, according to the 2005 census, a total popula ...

, and finally executed in November 1939. He left his handkerchief to one of his cellmates, asking him a last favour: "It's all I have, you give it to my wife."

Notes

References

*Beevor, Antony. (2006). ''The battle for Spain. The Spanish civil war, 1936–1939.'' Penguin Books. London. . * *Thomas, Hugh. (2001). ''The Spanish Civil War.'' Penguin Books. London. . {{DEFAULTSORT:Vega, Etelvino 1906 births 1939 deaths Spanish army officers Spanish communists Spanish military personnel of the Spanish Civil War (Republican faction) Communists executed by Francoist Spain Executed Spanish people Executed military leaders Prisoners of war held by Spain