José Fernández de Villa-Abrille facts for kids
José Fernández de Villa-Abrille y Calivara (1878 – 1946) was a Spanish general. He was in charge of the army in Seville when the Spanish Civil War began. He did not join the rebel forces at first.
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Life of General Villa-Abrille
Early Role in Seville
General Fernández de Villa-Abrille was a top army leader in Andalusia, Spain. His main base was in Seville. This was just before the start of the Spanish Civil War in July 1936. He knew about a secret plan by some rebel generals. These generals, called Nationalists, wanted to take control of the country.
Refusing to Join the Rebels
One of the rebel leaders, General Gonzalo Queipo de Llano, visited General Villa-Abrille. This was in April, before the war started. Queipo de Llano asked his old friend, Villa-Abrille, to join the uprising. But Villa-Abrille said no. He told local and national leaders of the Republic that there was no rebel activity in his army.
On June 7, all army officers in Seville promised loyalty to the Republic. This happened when a government minister visited. The local governor also talked to Villa-Abrille. He asked about soldiers possibly working with right-wing groups. Villa-Abrille denied these links. He also did not tell the governor when Queipo de Llano visited again in early July. He also didn't say that he had refused to meet Queipo de Llano many times.
The Uprising in Seville
On July 18, 1936, the rebels began their uprising. General Queipo de Llano walked into Villa-Abrille's office. He asked Villa-Abrille if he supported the Republic or the Nationalists. Villa-Abrille hesitated. He did not resist the rebels. Many officers under him also did not fight back.
Because of this, Villa-Abrille and other senior officers were arrested. Queipo de Llano took over Villa-Abrille's position. Many soldiers in Seville joined the rebel uprising.
Later Life and Imprisonment
General Villa-Abrille was removed from the army in December 1936. In February 1939, a court decided he should go to prison. He was sentenced to six years. He served his time in Seville, in a villa used as a military prison. After he was released, he died in 1946 in Madrid.
See also
In Spanish: José Fernández de Villa-Abrille para niños
