Antonio Escobar Huerta (14 November 1879,

Ceuta Ceuta (, , ; ar, سَبْتَة, Sabtah) is a Spanish autonomous city on the north coast of Africa. Bordered by Morocco, it lies along the boundary between the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. It is one of several Spanish territori ...

– 8 February 1940) was a Spanish military officer.

Biography

Escobar was a Catholic and a conservative. At the outbreak of the

Spanish Civil War The Spanish Civil War ( es, Guerra Civil Española)) or The Revolution ( es, La Revolución, link=no) among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War ( es, Cuarta Guerra Carlista, link=no) among Carlism, Carlists, and The Rebellion ( es, La Rebeli ...

, he was a

colonel Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge ...

of the Spanish Civil Guard in the city of

Barcelona Barcelona ( , , ) is a city on the coast of northeastern Spain. It is the capital and largest city of the autonomous community of Catalonia, as well as the second most populous municipality of Spain. With a population of 1.6 million within c ...

. He remained loyal to the republican government and on 19 July with his 800 men aided decisively to the defeat of the ''coup'' in Barcelona. Later he was promoted to General, and in January 1939, he led the Republican forces in the failed Valsequillo Offensive. On 16 February 1939, he was one of the officers who said to the Prime Minister Juan Negrin that further military resistance was impossible. In March 1939, he was the commander of the Extremadura Army, supported Casado's coup and crushed the Communist resistance in

Ciudad Real Ciudad Real (, ; en, "Royal City") is a municipality of Spain located in the autonomous community of Castile–La Mancha, capital of the province of Ciudad Real. It is the 5th most populated municipality in the region. History It was founded ...

. On 26 March 1939, he was captured by the Nationalists and executed on 8 February 1940 in Barcelona. :es:Antonio Escobar Huerta He was buried in the

Montjuïc Cemetery Montjuïc Cemetery, known in Catalan as Cementiri del Sud-oest or Cementiri de Montjuïc, is located on one of the rocky slopes of Montjuïc hill in Barcelona. History It was opened on 17 March 1883 by the city of Barcelona as its main cemeter ...

, Barcelona.

Notes

References

*Beevor, Antony. (2006). ''The Battle for Spain. The Spanish Civil War, 1936-1939.'' Penguin Books. London. *Jackson, Gabriel. (1967). ''The Spanish Republic and the Civil War, 1931-1939.'' Princeton University Press. Princeton. *Thomas, Hugh. (2001). ''The Spanish Civil War.'' Penguin Books. London. {{DEFAULTSORT:Escobar Huertas, Antonio 1879 births 1940 deaths People from Ceuta Spanish army officers Spanish military personnel of the Spanish Civil War (Republican faction) People executed by Francoist Spain Executed Spanish people Spanish Roman Catholics

Biography

See also

Notes

References