Etelvino Vega

Etelvino Vega Martínez (1906 – 1939) was a Spanish politician and military officer.

Etelvino Vega
Birth name	Etelvino Vega Martínez
Born	1906 Mieres, Asturias, Kingdom of Spain
Died	1939 Alicante, Spanish State
Allegiance	Spanish Republic
Service/branch	Spanish Republican Army
Years of service	1936–1939
Rank	Lieutenant Colonel
Commands held	34th Division, 12th Army Corps (1938-9).
Battles/wars	Spanish Civil War Battle of Guadalajara Battle of Teruel Battle of the Ebro Final offensive of the Spanish Civil War

Life

In 1931, he was a member of the central committee of the Communist Party of Spain (PCE). In 1932, after the failed coup of Sanjurjo, he supported the government of the Second Spanish Republic against the will of the Comintern (he launched the slogan “Defence of the Republic"). He and the other members of the central committee were expelled from the party. He lived for some time in the Soviet Union and later he came back to Spain.[1]

After the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War, he fought with the Fifth Regiment in the Somosierra front and later in the Popular Army in the Battle of Guadalajara. After that, he led the 34th division of Heredia’s 18th Army Corps in the Battle of Teruel[2] and the 12th Army Corps in the Battle of Ebro.[3] In March 1939, he was appointed military commander of Alicante,[4] but during Casado’s coup on 6 March he was arrested by the supporters of Casado.[5] After the end of the war, he was captured by the Nationalists, and executed in November 1939.[6]

Notes

1. Thomas, Hugh. (2001). The Spanish Civil War. Penguin Books. London. p.115
2. Thomas, Hugh. (2001). The Spanish Civil War. Penguin Books. London. p.768
3. Thomas, Hugh. (2001). The Spanish Civil War. Penguin Books. London. p.813
4. Thomas, Hugh. (2001). The Spanish Civil War. Penguin Books. London. p.876
5. Beevor, Antony. (2006). The Battle for Spain. The Spanish Civil War, 1936-1939. Penguin Books. London. p.393
6. http://elpais.com/diario/1999/02/01/espana/917823621_850215.html

References

• Beevor, Antony. (2006). The battle for Spain. The Spanish civil war, 1936–1939. Penguin Books. London. ISBN 978-0-14-303765-1.
• Thomas, Hugh. (2001). The Spanish Civil War. Penguin Books. London. ISBN 978-0-14-101161-5.