Julián Zugazagoitia facts for kids
Julián Zugazagoitia Mendieta (born February 5, 1899, in Bilbao – died November 9, 1940, in Madrid) was an important Spanish journalist and politician. He lived during a very difficult time in Spain's history.
He was a member of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party. This was a political group that believed in social justice and workers' rights. Julián was a close friend of another important politician, Indalecio Prieto. He also worked as the editor of a newspaper called El Socialista in the mid-1930s.
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Standing Up for Fairness
During the early days of the Spanish Civil War, Julián Zugazagoitia used his writing to speak out. He wrote against unfair killings and secret prisons. These actions were happening outside the law. He believed that everyone, even opponents, should be treated fairly.
In October 1936, he wrote in El Socialista: "The life of an opponent who gives up is safe. No fighter can take that life. Even if others don't act this way, we should." This shows his strong belief in justice.
Becoming a Minister
In May 1937, Julián Zugazagoitia was given a very important job. The prime minister, Juan Negrín, chose him to be the Minister of Interior. This meant he was in charge of internal security and public order for the Second Spanish Republic.
During his time as minister, he showed his commitment to justice. When a political leader named Andreu Nin was taken and killed, Julián took action. He removed the head of security, Antonio Ortega, from his job. He even threatened to resign himself because of the incident.
Later Political Roles
In 1938, Julián Zugazagoitia supported a decision to take control of a group called the Consejo de Aragon. This group was run by anarchists. He believed it was important for the government to have full authority.
He was replaced as Minister of Interior in May 1938. However, in April 1938, he was given another important role. He became the secretary of the Ministry of Defence. This shows he continued to be a trusted figure in the government.
Life After the War
After the Spanish Civil War ended, Julián Zugazagoitia had to leave Spain. He went to France to find safety. While in France, he wrote a book about the war. It was called Historia de la guerra en España (History of the War in Spain). The book was published in 1940.
Sadly, his time in France did not last long. In 1940, he was arrested by the Gestapo. This was the secret police of Nazi Germany. They handed him over to the new government in Spain. Julián Zugazagoitia was then executed.
See also
In Spanish: Julián Zugazagoitia para niños
