Lisardo Doval Bravo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lisardo Doval Bravo
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| Born | 1888 La Coruña, Spain |
| Died | 15 October 1975 (aged 86–87) Madrid, Spain |
| Allegiance |  Spain |
| Branch |  Spanish Army |
| Years of service | 1926–1931 |
| Rank | General |
| Commands held | Civil Guard |
Lisardo Doval Bravo (born in La Coruña in 1888 – died in Madrid on October 15, 1975) was a Spanish soldier. He was an officer in the Spanish Civil Guard and eventually became a general.
He is known for his role in stopping the Asturian Revolution in 1934. During this time, he used very strong methods, which were reported to the government. When the Spanish Civil War began in 1936, he joined the rebel side. In May 1937, Francisco Franco made him the Head of Security at his main headquarters in Salamanca.
Contents
Early Life and Military Career
Lisardo Doval Bravo was born in a small village in La Coruña province in 1888. When he was a child, he met Francisco Franco in El Ferrol. Franco was four years younger than him. Later, they both attended the Infantry Academy in Toledo.
Doval joined the Civil Guard as an officer. He served in Oviedo from 1917 to 1922. During the time of Primo de Rivera's dictatorship, he became a captain. He was put in charge of the military base in Gijón, where he stayed from 1926 to 1931.
Actions in Gijón
During his time in Gijón, Captain Doval became known for his harsh actions. He worked to stop strikes and protests by workers and those who supported a republic. For example, in December 1930, he led efforts to stop a general strike.
During this strike, one worker was killed and another was hurt. Captain Doval ordered cavalry (soldiers on horseback) to charge at the workers. He also allowed strikers to be beaten to make them tell who their leaders were. In April 1931, he used machine guns to defend his barracks from an attack.
After new local elections in April 1931, the new city council in Gijón wanted to investigate Captain Doval's actions. When Doval learned this, he wrote a long letter defending himself. This letter was published in local newspapers. The next day, other letters appeared in newspapers. These letters were from lawyers and people who had been arrested by Doval. They described mistreatment they had experienced or heard about.
Later Assignments
Lisardo Doval also took part in General Sanjurjo's attempt to overthrow the government in August 1932. This attempt failed, and Doval was suspended from duty. However, he was later pardoned (forgiven) by the government in April 1934.
He was chosen by a politician named José María Gil Robles to help train young people in a group called Juventudes de Acción Popular (JAP). This group was the youth branch of a political party called CEDA. In September 1934, Doval was sent to Tétouan.
Role in the Spanish Civil War
When the Spanish Civil War started in July 1936, Major Doval led a group of soldiers from Salamanca. Their goal was to move towards Ávila and then enter Madrid. However, his group was defeated by loyal government forces.
In these operations, a leader of the Falange (a political group), Onésimo Redondo, also took part. Redondo was killed on July 24. When news of his death reached his followers, they were very angry. Major Doval supported them.
Doval went to Salamanca, where many left-wing people had already been arrested. Many of these prisoners were taken from their cells by the Falangists and killed. Among them were the mayor of Salamanca, Casto Prieto Carrasco, and a socialist politician, José Andrés Manso.
On May 14, 1937, Francisco Franco appointed Doval as the Head of Security. This meant Doval was in charge of protecting Franco's home and headquarters in Salamanca. He commanded the soldiers who guarded Franco.
After the civil war ended, Doval oversaw trials against those who had lost the war in Tortosa. In two trials held on August 10, 1939, many men were put on trial. The people defending them were only able to speak to them on the day of the trial. The entire trial process for each group lasted less than half an hour.
Around 1953, Lisardo Doval retired from the Civil Guard with the rank of general. He passed away 22 years later, at the age of 87. He died at the Gomez Ulla Military Hospital in Madrid on October 15, 1975. This was just one month before the death of Francisco Franco.
See also
In Spanish: Lisardo Doval Bravo para niños
