Juan Ibarrola
Encyclopedia
Juan Ibarrola Orueta was a Spanish military commander who fought with the Republicans
during the Spanish Civil War
. He was a captain of the Civil Guard
(Guardia Civil); unlike many of his fellow officers
he rallied to the Republic when the Nationalist
rising began. Featured in the war in Morocco, the coup d'état of July 1936 that led to the Civil War he was captain of the Guardia Civil in Bilbao and took command of a column to expel the rebels from the province of Álava without success.
He was unusual in the Republican Army as he was Catholic
, but he was also a Basque
and the Basques had generally rallied to the Republic. He was a medical instructor before the war.
He fought in the north of Spain, was promoted to command the 50th Division, and commanded the XI Army Corps at Teruel
.
Second Spanish Republic
The Second Spanish Republic was the government of Spain between April 14 1931, and its destruction by a military rebellion, led by General Francisco Franco....
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...
. He was a captain of the Civil Guard
Civil Guard (Spain)
The Civil Guard is the Spanish gendarmerie. It has foreign peace-keeping missions and maintains military status and is the equivalent of a federal military-status police force. As a police force, the Guardia Civil is comparable today to the French Gendarmerie, the Italian Carabinieri and the...
(Guardia Civil); unlike many of his fellow officers
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
he rallied to the Republic when the Nationalist
Francisco 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...
rising began. Featured in the war in Morocco, the coup d'état of July 1936 that led to the Civil War he was captain of the Guardia Civil in Bilbao and took command of a column to expel the rebels from the province of Álava without success.
He was unusual in the Republican Army as he was Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
, but he was also a Basque
Basque people
The Basques as an ethnic group, primarily inhabit an area traditionally known as the Basque Country , a region that is located around the western end of the Pyrenees on the coast of the Bay of Biscay and straddles parts of north-central Spain and south-western France.The Basques are known in the...
and the Basques had generally rallied to the Republic. He was a medical instructor before the war.
He fought in the north of Spain, was promoted to command the 50th Division, and commanded the XI Army Corps at Teruel
Battle of Teruel
The Battle of Teruel was fought in and around the city of Teruel during the Spanish Civil War in December 1937 – February 1938. The combatants fought the battle during the worst Spanish winter in twenty years. It was one of the bloodier actions of the war. The city changed hands several times,...
.