Viriatos facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Viriatos |
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Emblem used by the "Viriatos".
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| Active | 1936 – 1939 |
| Country |  Portugal |
| Allegiance |  Spanish Nationalists |
| Branch | Land and air forces |
| Type | Volunteers |
| Size | 8,000 – 12,000 |
| Engagements | Spanish Civil War |
The Viriatos were Portuguese volunteers. They fought in the Spanish Civil War between 1936 and 1939. These volunteers joined the side known as the Nationalists. The name "Viriatos" comes from Viriathus, an ancient Lusitanian leader.
Contents
Who Were the Viriatos?
The name "Viriatos" was given to Portuguese people. They chose to volunteer and fight in the Spanish Civil War. This war took place in Spain from 1936 to 1939. The volunteers supported the Nationalist side.
Why the Name "Viriatos"?
The name "Viriatos" honors a famous ancient leader. This leader was Viriathus. He led the Lusitanians, an ancient people from what is now Portugal. He was known for his bravery.
Portuguese Volunteers in Spain
At the start of the war, the Portuguese Army had an idea. They wanted to create a group called the Viriatos Legion. This group would help the Nationalists in Spain. However, this Legion was never fully formed.
The Viriatos Legion Idea
The plan for the Viriatos Legion was stopped. This happened before they could even start recruiting people. The Portuguese government worried about problems at home. There were some protests in Portugal. These protests supported the other side in the Spanish Civil War. The government decided that sending troops directly might cause more unrest.
Joining the Fight
Even though the Legion didn't form, many Portuguese still volunteered. They heard about the Viriatos Legion idea. These volunteers joined different Spanish Nationalist groups. Some joined the Spanish Foreign Legion. Others joined Carlist militias or the Falange. They also joined regular Spanish army units. All these Portuguese volunteers became known as "Viriatos."
How Many Volunteers?
Historians have different ideas about the exact number. Historian Antony Beevor believes about 12,000 Portuguese volunteers took part. Another historian, Christopher Othen, thinks the number was closer to 8,000.
Portugal's Observation Mission
From 1937, Portugal sent a special group to Spain. This was called the Portuguese Military Observation Mission. It included members from all parts of the Portuguese military. This mission had two main goals. First, they wanted to protect the interests of the Portuguese volunteers. Second, they wanted to learn from the war. They gathered information about what was happening.
Air Force in Combat
Officially, this mission was not supposed to fight. However, the air force part of the mission did take part in battles. A notable member was the aviator José Adriano Pequito Rebelo.
See also
In Spanish: Viriatos para niños
