Manuel Díaz Criado facts for kids

Manuel Díaz Criado (1898 – 7 July 1947) was a Spanish infantry officer who during the Spanish Civil War was responsible for the arrest and execution of thousands of people in the regions of Andalucia and Extremadura who opposed the Nationalist military uprising.

Early life and career

He was born in Seville and was the eldest of five children of Manuel Díaz Gavira, a civil administrative chief. He joined the army and was posted to the Spanish Legion in the Spanish protectorate in Morocco. In 1925, he was promoted to captain. He associated with right-wing elements trying to subvert left-wing officials associated with the Spanish Second Republic.

Spanish Civil War

After a relatively quiet few months, he reappeared at the onset of the civil war on 18 July 1936. Gonzalo Queipo de Llano, one of the leaders of the Nationalist uprising, gave Diaz Criado the title Delegado Militar Gubernativo (government military delegate) for Andalucia and Extremadura, which effectively gave him carte-blanche to deal with anyone opposing the Nationalists. Diaz Criado, who was protected by bodyguards, operated from the comisaría Central de Investigación y Vigilancia in Calle Jaúregui, not far from his mentor Queipo, with the Seville police of the brigada social under his command since their chief, Emilio Sanz Bernuy, had just been assassinated like almost all other local officials in Seville.

He would sign about 60 death sentences a day with his characteristic "X2" signature. His presence and behaviour were regarded with general unease, but his careless routine eventually cost him his position. Antonio Bahamonde Sánchez de Castro, Queipo de Llano's propagandist, claimed that General Emilio Mola, one of the three main leaders of the Nationalist uprising, learned that one if his friends was imprisoned in Seville and even rang Diaz Criado directly to make sure he was not killed, but the execution went ahead anyway. The final straw came in November 1936, when he accused the Portuguese vice-consul in Seville of being a spy, although he had actually been collecting information about arms deliveries from Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy at the request of Nicolás Franco, General Francisco Franco's brother. General Franco demanded his immediate removal. Portugal was supporting the Nationalists and an angry Queipo de Llano, who tolerated Diaz Criado, was now a personal embarrassment and was forced to apologise. Diaz Criado was posted to the Talavera de la Reina front and promoted to commander.

Later life

He spent the final part of his career as an active soldier in Jaén, initially at the front and later in the transfer and the custody of prisoners. In March 1940, he was appointed military commander of Andújar. In 1943, he was promoted to lieutenant-colonel and was awarded the cross of the Royal and Military Order of Saint Hermenegild. He died in Seville on 7 July 1947, survived by his wife, Julia (née Benitez Lago), and son.

Legacy

Contemporaries who knew Diaz Criado estimated that he had overseen the deaths of 11,000 people. Antonio Bahamonde suggested the number as many as 20,000.

See also

In Spanish: Manuel Díaz Criado para niños