Etelvino Vega

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

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Vega and the second or maternal family name is Martínez.

Etelvino Vega
Birth name	Etelvino Vega Martínez
Born	1906 Mieres, Asturias, Kingdom of Spain
Died	15 November 1939(1939-11-15) (aged 32–33) Alicante, Spanish State
Allegiance	Spanish Republic
Service / branch	Spanish Republican Army
Years of service	1936–1939
Rank	Lieutenant Colonel
Commands	34th Division, 12th Army Corps (1938-9).
Battles / wars	Spanish Civil War Battle of Guadalajara Battle of Teruel Battle of the Ebro Final offensive of the Spanish Civil War

Life

In 1931, he was a member of the central committee of the Communist Party of Spain (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 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.^[1]

After the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War, he fought with the Fifth Regiment on the Somosierra front and later with the Popular Army in the Battle of Guadalajara. He subsequently led the 34th division of Heredia’s 18th Army Corps in the Battle of Teruel^[2] and later commanded the 12th Army Corps in the Battle of Ebro.^[3] In March 1939, he was appointed military commander of Alicante,^[4] but during Casado’s coup on 6 March, he was arrested by the supporters of Casado.^[5] After the end of the war, he was captured by the Nationalists at the Port of Alicante, then he was confined in Los Almendros concentration camp and Albatera concentration camp,^[6] and finally executed in November 1939.^[7] 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."^[8]

Notes

1. Thomas, Hugh. (2001). The Spanish Civil War. Penguin Books. London. p.115
2. Thomas, Hugh. (2001). The Spanish Civil War. Penguin Books. London. p.768
3. Thomas, Hugh. (2001). The Spanish Civil War. Penguin Books. London. p.813
4. Thomas, Hugh. (2001). The Spanish Civil War. Penguin Books. London. p.876
5. Beevor, Antony. (2006). The Battle for Spain. The Spanish Civil War, 1936-1939. Penguin Books. London. p.393
6. Morán 1986, p. 36.
7. Ernesto Burgos (1 August 2017). "El último recuerdo de Etelvino Vega". La Nueva España (in Spanish).
8. Lázaro, Julio M. (31 January 1999). "La viuda de un militar de la República logra la pensión tras 14 años de juicios". El País (in Spanish).

References

• Beevor, Antony. (2006). The battle for Spain. The Spanish civil war, 1936–1939. Penguin Books. London. ISBN 978-0-14-303765-1.
• Morán, Gregorio (1986). Miseria y grandeza del Partido Comunista de España: 1939-1985 (in Spanish). Barcelona: Planeta. ISBN 84-320-5852-1.
• Thomas, Hugh. (2001). The Spanish Civil War. Penguin Books. London. ISBN 978-0-14-101161-5.