Segundo Blanco facts for kids

Segundo Blanco González (born in Gijón in 1899 – died in Mexico in 1957) was an important figure from Asturias, Spain. He was an anarchist, a teacher, and an active member of the CNT, a large workers' union. He played a role in the Spanish government during the Spanish Civil War.

Early Life and Activism

Segundo Blanco González was born in 1899 in Gijón, a city where many people believed in anarchism. He worked in construction, helping to build things. He also studied to become a teacher. However, he spent a lot of his youth involved in activism, which meant he couldn't teach much at first.

From a young age, Segundo became a very important member of the CNT in Asturias. This region had many skilled anarchists, including a famous one named Eleuterio Quintanilla.

Working with the CNT

In 1926, during a time when Spain was ruled by a dictator named Miguel Primo de Rivera, Segundo Blanco was chosen as the main leader for the CNT in the regions of Asturias, León, and Palencia. He also helped publish the union's newspaper, Solidaridad.

Later that year, he was arrested and treated badly by a commander named Lisardo Doval. This commander was known for being harsh during a miners' strike in 1934. After his arrest, Juan Peiró took over his leadership role in the CNT. Segundo was put in prison several times, including in 1931 and 1934.

Role in the Spanish Republic and Civil War

When the Second Spanish Republic was formed, Segundo Blanco took part in a big CNT meeting in 1931. He even led some of the discussions.

When the Spanish Civil War began, he became the head of the War Committee in Gijón. This committee was set up to help the city during the conflict. Soon after, he was made the Minister of Industry for the Interprovincial Council of Asturias and León. He held this job until Gijón fell to the opposing forces on October 21, 1937. He was also part of the War Commission when it became the Sovereign Council of Asturias and León.

Government Roles During the War

After Gijón fell, Segundo managed to escape to France. From there, he went to Revolutionary Catalonia in Spain and then joined the fight again in Valencia. In Valencia, he was in charge of defense for the CNT's national committee.

In April 1938, he joined the government led by Juan Negrín. In this government, he became the Minister of Education and Public Health. His work in these roles was very difficult because there weren't enough resources. It was hard to provide basic services for people in a country torn apart by war.

End of the War and Exile

Just before the war ended, Segundo Blanco went to the central part of Spain. On March 3, 1939, he warned the anarchist groups in Madrid that Negrín did not plan to replace Segismundo Casado, a military leader who was against communists. His warnings were not listened to. Soon after, Casado led a coup, which quickly led to the final collapse of the Republic.

After the Civil War, Segundo Blanco crossed the Pyrenees mountains into France and settled in the city of Orléans. However, when Nazi Germany invaded France during the Battle of France, he moved to Mexico. He lived there until he passed away in 1957.

During his time in exile, he believed that the anarchist movement should work together with political parties. Because he kept his position in Juan Negrín's governments, he was eventually removed from the CNT.

See also

In Spanish: Segundo Blanco para niños