José Luna Meléndez facts for kids

José Luna Meléndez (born in 1893, died in 1960) was a Spanish military officer and politician. He was a key figure in the Falange, a political movement in Spain. During the time of the Franco dictatorship, he held important positions. These included a high role in the Falange party and working as a lawyer in the government courts.

Early Life and Political Beginnings

José Luna Meléndez was a professional soldier. He rose through the ranks to become a colonel in the army. After leaving the military, he helped start the Spanish Falange party.

In 1936, he tried to become a member of the Cortes, which is like Spain's parliament. However, he did not win enough votes to become a deputy. When the Falange party was made illegal, he was arrested. He was put in prison by the government at the time, the Second Spanish Republic.

As a leader of the Falange in Cáceres, he supported a plan by the military. This plan was against the Second Spanish Republic.

Role During the Spanish Civil War

When the Spanish Civil War began, Luna Meléndez rejoined the Falange. He played an important part in managing the Falange's activities in the Extremadura region. During the war, he had a lot of power as the main Falange leader in Extremadura.

By the end of 1939, he became a member of the National Council of FET and JONS. This was a very important group within the Falange party.

Later Career and Dismissal

In May 1941, there was a change in leadership within the party. José Luna Meléndez was chosen to be the Deputy Secretary General of the Falange. He replaced Pedro Gamero del Castillo in this role.

During this time, he was a strong supporter of Ramón Serrano Suñer, a powerful political figure. Luna Meléndez was known for being a very enthusiastic Falangist. However, he was removed from his positions in September 1942. This happened after an event known as the Begoña attack. Other important ministers, like Valentín Galarza and José Enrique Varela, were also removed.

Even though he always followed Franco's orders, he was dismissed. The reason given was that he was involved in the incident. Manuel Mora Figueroa, a veteran of the Blue Division, took his place.

Life After Politics

Despite losing his high-ranking political jobs, José Luna Meléndez continued to work. From 1946 until 1960, he worked as a solicitor. A solicitor is a type of lawyer who helps people with legal matters in court.

He passed away in Madrid in 1960.

See also

In Spanish: José Luna Meléndez para niños