Federico Melchor facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Federico Melchor Fernández
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Federico Melchor from Mundo Obrero 19 September 1985
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| Born | 10 April 1915 Madrid, Spain
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| Died | 11 September 1985 (aged 70) Madrid, Spain
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| Nationality | Spanish |
| Occupation | Journalist |
| Known for | Spanish civil war communist leader |
Federico Melchor Fernández (born April 10, 1915 – died September 11, 1985) was a Spanish journalist and a leader in the Communist Party. He was an important figure in the Communist Youth Union of Spain. During the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939), he was the main director of propaganda for the government led by Juan Negrín. Later, he became a member of the main leadership group of the Communist Party of Spain.
Life Story
Early Years
Federico Melchor was born in Madrid, Spain, on April 10, 1915. When he was a boy, he spent time at the Casa del Pueblo, which was a community center. He joined the youth group connected to the Socialist Party.
He worked as an editor for a weekly newspaper called Renovación. He also became the secretary for the Socialist Youth group in Madrid. He was part of the national leadership team for the Socialist Youth of Spain (JSE). He also worked as an editor for the newspaper Claridad.
In 1934, Melchor was chosen for the JSE executive committee. In 1936, he visited Moscow with other young leaders like Santiago Carrillo. When he returned, Melchor, Carrillo, and others worked to bring together the communist and socialist youth groups. This led to a new organization called the Unified Socialist Youth (JSU). The JSU joined the Communist Youth International as a supporter. It aimed to be a "new style" youth movement, similar to the Popular Front idea.
During the Civil War
During the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), Federico Melchor was a captain in a militia group called "October." He was put in charge of the Security, Assault, and National Guard forces. These forces were under Santiago Carrillo, who was in charge of Public Security in Madrid.
Many key people in Carrillo's department were already members of the Communist Party of Spain (PCE) or soon joined. The police groups formed by trade unions or political parties were replaced by full-time security forces. The communists had a lot of control over these new forces. In November 1936, Melchor officially moved from the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) to the PCE.
The PCE did not want workers to take control of factories. They believed the state should own industries. Melchor explained that they were fighting for a democratic republic, not a socialist revolution at that time. He also pointed out that protecting foreign investments was important for international relations.
Under the government of Juan Negrín, Melchor became the Director General of Propaganda. This meant he was in charge of spreading information and promoting the government's ideas. In January 1938, he was replaced by Manuel Sánchez Arcas. During the war, Melchor also worked for the JSU militias and directed the daily newspaper Trincheras. When the Republic fell in 1939, he escaped to France.
Later Life
In Paris, France, Melchor edited the JSU newspaper called Juventud. When World War II (1939-1945) began, he had to leave France and sailed to Mexico. In Mexico, he edited newspapers like España Popular and the Boletín de Información Sindical. He also represented the JSU in Mexico.
After the war, he returned to Europe and rejoined the JSU leadership. He worked as an editor for Radio España Independiente in Bucharest. Later, he returned to Paris and managed a PCE information office. He also ran a weekly newspaper called Información Española.
Before the PCE became legal in Spain in 1977, he secretly returned to direct the newspaper Mundo Obrero. After the party was legalized, he openly directed the journal in Madrid. Federico Melchor died in Madrid on September 11, 1985, when he was 70 years old.
Sources
See also
In Spanish: Federico Melchor para niños
