Carabineros facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Carabineros CorpsCuerpo de Carabineros |
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| Common name | Carabineros |
| Motto | Moralidad, lealtad, valor y disciplina Morality, loyalty, courage and discipline |
| Agency overview | |
| Formed | 1829 |
| Dissolved | 1940 |
| Superseding agency | Guardia Civil |
| Jurisdictional structure | |
| National agency | Spain |
| Operations jurisdiction | Spain |
| Governing body | Ministry of Finance |
| Constituting instrument |
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| General nature | |
| Specialist jurisdictions |
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| Operational structure | |
| Overviewed by | Directorate-General of Security |
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The Carabineros was a special armed force in Spain. They worked under both the kings and the Second Republic. Their main job was to patrol Spain's coasts and borders. They helped stop fraud and smuggling. So, the Carabineros acted like both border guards and customs officers.
This force started in 1829. It continued until 1940. Then, it was combined with the Guardia Civil.
Contents
What was the Carabineros' motto and uniform?
The Carabineros had a motto: Moralidad, lealtad, valor y disciplina. This means "Morality, Loyalty, Courage, and Discipline." They were stationed all along Spain's land borders. You could also find them in coastal areas and in Madrid.
Their uniform was dark blue with red details. This was until the 1920s. After that, they wore a greyish-green uniform.
How did the Carabineros corps begin?
The First Hundred Years of Service
The Carabineros Corps started on March 9, 1829. King Fernando VII created it as the 'Royal Carabinier Corps of the Coasts and Borders'. Field Marshal José Ramón Rodil led the corps at that time.
A few years later, in 1833, their name changed. They became the 'Carabiniers of the Royal Finance'. They were part of the Finance Ministry. For a while, the corps was not well looked after. By 1842, it was almost not working.
Then, Field Marshal Martín José de Iriarte helped fix things. The corps was reformed and renamed again. It became the 'Carabinier Corps of the Kingdom'. This new group replaced the old, less effective one.
Later, the Carabineros and the Guardia Civil were placed under the War Ministry. This was to help them be better organized and disciplined. A new law gave them a military role. This law also followed the rules of the 1876 Spanish Constitution.
In August 1923, Lieutenant General José Olaguer Feliú became the General Director. Even though money was tight, he made things better for the corps. He shortened their workday to twelve hours. He also improved the schools where new recruits trained. General Olaguer Feliu built new living quarters and fixed old ones. He even started schools for the children of Carabineros. He also made sure orphans of Carabineros had better schooling.
In 1929, the corps celebrated its 100th anniversary. A monument was built in their honor at San Lorenzo del Escorial. King Alfonso XIII also gave them a special award. It was called the Great Cross of the Civil Order of Beneficence. This award was for their brave actions. They helped fight fires, floods, and rescued people from shipwrecks.
What was the Carabineros' role in the Spanish Civil War?
The Carabineros Corps was one of the police groups that mostly supported the government. This was during the 1936 Spanish coup of July 1936. This event led to the Spanish Civil War. The regular army was divided. The Civil Guard was also split almost in half. So, the government relied a lot on loyal groups like the Carabineros.
In mid-1936, there were about 16,096 men in the corps. About one-third were in areas taken by the rebels. The other two-thirds, about 10,000 men, stayed loyal to the government.
Because they were a professional and loyal force, the carabineros became an important unit. They joined the Republican Army's mixed brigades. The Carabinier corps grew to 40,000 men. This idea came from the Finance Minister, Juan Negrín.
Some loyal carabineros were captured by the rebel army in August 1936. Sadly, they were executed in Badajoz.
Carabineros in Mixed Brigades
Some units in the People's Republican Army were made only of Carabineros. Examples include the 65th, 85th, and 87th mixed brigades. The 3rd and 5th were very famous. They fought in many major battles of the civil war. These included the Jarama, Brunete, and Teruel battles.
How did the Carabineros corps end?
The End of the War and Disbandment
After the Francoist side won the war in 1939, the Carabineros Corps was shut down. The new government did this because most carabinier units had stayed loyal to the Republic.
A law was passed on March 15, 1940. This law officially ended the Cuerpo de Carabineros. Its remaining members and resources were moved to the Guardia Civil. This meant the Guardia Civil took over all their duties.
Years later, in 1984, a new Spanish law was passed. This law recognized the rights of those who had been part of the Carabineros. It gave them back some of the rights and recognition they lost in 1940.
Images for kids
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Royal Carabineros Seal; 1910.
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Republican Carabineros Civil War standard.
See also
In Spanish: Cuerpo de Carabineros para niños
