Heli Rolando de Tella y Cantos facts for kids

Heli Rolando de Tella y Cantos (born September 14, 1888 – died October 10, 1967) was a brave Spanish soldier and officer. He fought in important wars like the Moroccan War and the Spanish Civil War. During the Civil War, he sided with General Francisco Franco's forces, known as the Nationalists.

Tella came from a family of farmers in Galicia, Spain. When he was young, he studied at the Toledo Infantry Academy. After finishing his studies, he was sent to Spanish Morocco to serve in the army. He was recognized for his courage and received several awards. In 1923, he earned a Military Merit Medal. In 1925, he received the San Fernando Cross, which is Spain's highest military honor. He got this award for bravely leading native Moroccan troops, called Regulares, in battle.

Opposing the Republic

Tella did not support the Spanish Republic, which was the government in Spain starting in 1931. He was one of the few officers who joined a failed attempt to overthrow the government on August 10, 1932. This attempt was led by General Jose Sanjurjo. Because of his involvement, Tella was sent away to Villa Cisneros in Spanish Sahara. He stayed there until 1934, when he was allowed to return home as part of a general pardon. During his time away, he became interested in Carlism, a political movement that supported a different royal family for Spain. Before the Civil War began in 1936, he represented the Carlists in the Army of Africa.

Role in the Spanish Civil War

When the Spanish Civil War started in 1936, Tella was a major. He led a group of soldiers from General Juan Yagüe's Army of Africa. His troops marched north from Seville. One of his most important successes was the Battle of Mérida on August 11. His strong defense of Mérida allowed Yagüe's main army to move towards Badajoz without being attacked from the side. After this, Tella also took part in the Siege of Madrid, a long battle for the capital city.

Later Life and Retirement

In 1938, Tella was promoted to brigadier general. In 1940, he became the commander of the 81st Division. He was later named the military governor of Burgos and then Lugo in 1942. In 1943, Tella was removed from the army. This was likely due to political reasons, as some historians suggest he had strong beliefs about who should lead Spain after Franco. From 1944 to 1945, he was kept under house arrest in Albacete and Palencia. Heli Rolando de Tella y Cantos passed away in 1967.