Assassination of José Calvo Sotelo facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Assassination of José Calvo Sotelo
Part of the prelude to the Spanish Civil War
A sculptural portrait of Calvo Sotelo in the monument dedicated to him erected by the Franco dictatorship in 1960 in the Plaza de Castilla in Madrid
Location	Madrid, Spanish Republic
Date	July 13, 1936 (1936-07-13)
Target	José Calvo Sotelo
Attack type	Assassination
Deaths	1 (Calvo Sotelo)
Assailants	Cuerpo de Seguridad y Asalto
Motive	Assassination of José Castillo

The assassination of José Calvo Sotelo happened in Madrid, Spain, early on Monday, July 13, 1936. This event took place during the time of the Second Spanish Republic. Calvo Sotelo was a very important leader of the political groups that opposed the government. His death was part of a wave of political violence that occurred in Spain between February and July 1936. This violence followed the victory of the Popular Front in the elections held in February 1936.

The Assassination of a Political Leader

The news of Calvo Sotelo's death caused a huge shock across Spain. It was not just because of the event itself, but also because the people who carried it out were members of the security forces. These officers had help from people linked to the Socialist party. One of them was even a bodyguard for a well-known Socialist politician, Indalecio Prieto. The leader of this group was Civil Guard Captain Fernando Condés, who also had ties to the PSOE.

Government's Reaction

What surprised many people even more was how the government reacted, or rather, how it didn't react. The government at the time was led by Santiago Casares Quiroga, and the President of the Republic was Manuel Azaña. Their lack of a strong response to such a serious event had a big impact on the country.

How This Event Changed History

José Calvo Sotelo speaking at a political rally in San Sebastián in 1935. He was a key leader of the right-wing groups who opposed the Republic. He also played a major role in planning the coup d'état of July 1936.

The assassination of Calvo Sotelo and the way it happened convinced many military officers to join a secret plan against the government. This plan had been developing since April under the leadership of General Mola. Just four days after Calvo Sotelo's death, this plan led to the coup d'état of July 1936.

The Start of the Spanish Civil War

However, the coup did not fully succeed everywhere. This partial failure then triggered the start of the Spanish Civil War. The groups who won the war, known as the Nationalists, later called Calvo Sotelo a "protomartyr." This means they saw him as the first person to die for their cause, which they called a "Liberation Crusade."

Remembering Calvo Sotelo

After the war, many monuments were built to honor Calvo Sotelo. The most important one is in Madrid's Plaza de Castilla. It was officially opened by Generalissimo Franco himself in 1960. Also, in almost every Spanish city, a street or a square was named after him. A large state-owned company, founded in 1942, was also named in his memory.

See also

In Spanish: Asesinato de Calvo Sotelo para niños