Enter a player name to begin or load your saved progress.
Conflicting accounts exist regarding Segismundo Casado López's paternal background; he himself asserted his father was a day laborer, while other sources indicate a father who held the rank of infantry captain.
Answer: True
Explanation: There are divergent accounts of Casado's paternal background, with his own claims of a father being a day laborer contrasting with other sources suggesting his father was an infantry captain.
Segismundo Casado López commenced his formal military education in 1907, entering the Cavalry Academy, not the Artillery Academy.
Answer: True
Explanation: Segismundo Casado López began his military studies in 1907 at the Cavalry Academy.
Upon graduating from the Cavalry Academy in 1911, Casado was commissioned as a second lieutenant and assigned to a cavalry regiment in Burgos, not promoted to captain and posted to Seville.
Answer: True
Explanation: After graduating from the Cavalry Academy in 1911, Casado was promoted to second lieutenant and posted to Burgos, not captain in Seville.
In 1921, Segismundo Casado López served in Spanish Morocco, undertaking duties primarily related to the protection of logistical operations.
Answer: True
Explanation: Casado served in Spanish Morocco starting in 1921, where his responsibilities included protecting logistics operations.
According to Segismundo Casado López's own accounts, what was his family background?
Answer: His parents were farmers, and his father was a day laborer.
Explanation: Casado himself stated that his parents were farmers and his father worked as a day laborer, describing a childhood marked by poverty.
In what year did Segismundo Casado López begin his military education at the Cavalry Academy?
Answer: 1907
Explanation: Segismundo Casado López entered the Cavalry Academy in 1907 to begin his military education.
What was Casado's rank upon graduating from the Cavalry Academy in 1911?
Answer: Segundo Teniente (Second Lieutenant)
Explanation: Upon graduating from the Cavalry Academy in 1911, Casado was commissioned as a Segundo Teniente (Second Lieutenant).
Which region did Casado serve in starting in 1921, where he protected logistics operations?
Answer: Spanish Morocco
Explanation: In 1921, Casado was stationed in Spanish Morocco, where he was involved in protecting logistics operations.
Contrary to any suggestion of support, Segismundo Casado López actively opposed the Primo de Rivera dictatorship, evidenced by his defense of officers involved in conspiracies against the regime.
Answer: True
Explanation: Segismundo Casado López opposed the Primo de Rivera dictatorship, as demonstrated by his defense of officers involved in conspiracies against it.
The establishment of the Second Spanish Republic led to the reversal of Segismundo Casado López's promotion to comandante (major).
Answer: True
Explanation: Following the advent of the Second Spanish Republic, Casado's promotion to comandante was rescinded.
During the Second Spanish Republic, Segismundo Casado López held the significant position of commanding the presidential guard for President Manuel Azaña.
Answer: True
Explanation: Casado served as the commander of President Manuel Azaña's personal guard during the Second Spanish Republic.
Casado's opposition to which regime is evidenced by his defense of officers involved in the Sanjuanada conspiracy?
Answer: The Primo de Rivera dictatorship
Explanation: Casado's defense of officers involved in the Sanjuanada conspiracy demonstrates his opposition to the Primo de Rivera dictatorship.
What impact did the Second Spanish Republic have on Casado's military rank in 1931?
Answer: His promotion to Comandante (Major) was reversed.
Explanation: In 1931, following the establishment of the Second Spanish Republic, Casado's promotion to Comandante was reversed.
During the July 1936 coup, Segismundo Casado López remained in Madrid and was involved in relocating President Azaña, rather than being appointed head of the General Staff.
Answer: True
Explanation: In July 1936, Casado remained in Madrid, assisting in the relocation of President Azaña, and did not assume the role of head of the General Staff at that time.
In October 1936, Segismundo Casado López was appointed to lead the operations department within the General Staff of the Republican Army.
Answer: True
Explanation: Casado was appointed head of the operations department at the Republican Army's General Staff in October 1936.
Segismundo Casado López advocated for the integration of mixed brigades into larger divisions, rather than allowing them to operate autonomously.
Answer: True
Explanation: Casado supported the integration of mixed brigades into divisions, contrary to their autonomous operation.
Segismundo Casado López commanded the XVIII Army Corps during the Aragon offensive in the summer of 1937.
Answer: True
Explanation: Casado commanded the XVIII Army Corps during the Aragon offensive in 1937.
What was Casado's reported role during the coup of July 1936?
Answer: He relocated President Azaña and served in the Sierra de Guadarrama.
Explanation: During the July 1936 coup, Casado reportedly relocated President Azaña and served in the Sierra de Guadarrama.
In October 1936, Casado was appointed to lead which department within the Republican Army's General Staff?
Answer: Operations Department
Explanation: Casado was appointed head of the operations department at the General Staff in October 1936.
What military organizational structure did Casado advocate for regarding mixed brigades?
Answer: They should be integrated into divisions.
Explanation: Casado advocated for the integration of mixed brigades into larger divisions, rather than their autonomous operation.
During which offensive did Casado command the XVIII Army Corps in the summer of 1937?
Answer: Aragon Offensive
Explanation: Casado commanded the XVIII Army Corps during the Aragon Offensive in the summer of 1937.
Segismundo Casado López initiated a coup d'état against the incumbent Republican government in March 1939, ostensibly to avert a Communist ascendancy and to terminate the protracted Spanish Civil War.
Answer: True
Explanation: Segismundo Casado López orchestrated a coup against the Republican government in March 1939, aiming to prevent a perceived Communist takeover and to end the Spanish Civil War.
Segismundo Casado López harbored significant doubts about Prime Minister Negrín's strategy, believing it would lead to further bloodshed in a war he considered already lost.
Answer: True
Explanation: Casado grew convinced that Negrín's strategy was futile and would only prolong the war, leading to unnecessary casualties.
In early 1939, Segismundo Casado López initiated clandestine peace negotiations with the Nationalist forces.
Answer: True
Explanation: Casado began secret peace talks with the Nationalists in early 1939.
Segismundo Casado López played a key role in the formation of the National Defence Council (CND) and briefly served as its president before relinquishing the position.
Answer: True
Explanation: Casado was instrumental in forming the National Defence Council (CND) and briefly held the presidency before General Miaja assumed the role.
What was Segismundo Casado López primarily known for during the Spanish Civil War?
Answer: Leading a coup against Prime Minister Negrín's government in March 1939.
Explanation: Segismundo Casado López is primarily recognized for initiating a coup against the Republican government in March 1939, near the war's conclusion.
What was Casado's primary reason for doubting Prime Minister Negrín's strategy in 1938?
Answer: He felt the strategy would lead to unnecessary deaths as the war was already lost.
Explanation: Casado doubted Negrín's strategy, believing continued fighting would result in pointless loss of life given the perceived unwinnability of the war.
Who did Casado blame for prolonging the Spanish Civil War to serve foreign interests?
Answer: The Communists
Explanation: Casado attributed the prolongation of the war to the Communists, whom he believed were acting in the interests of the Soviet Union.
What entity was formed by the plotters of the March 1939 coup, with Casado playing a key role?
Answer: The National Defence Council (CND)
Explanation: The National Defence Council (Consejo Nacional de Defensa, CND) was established by the coup plotters, with Casado being a principal figure in its formation.
Segismundo Casado López sought to negotiate a controlled surrender with the Nationalists, aiming to secure safe evacuation and prevent widespread political retribution.
Answer: True
Explanation: Casado aimed for a staged surrender that would facilitate evacuation and mitigate political repression.
Casado's negotiations with the Nationalists ultimately failed, as the latter demanded an immediate and unconditional surrender, which the CND could not accept.
Answer: True
Explanation: The negotiations collapsed because the Nationalists insisted on an immediate, unconditional surrender, a term unacceptable to Casado and the CND.
Segismundo Casado López departed Madrid on March 28, 1939, and subsequently boarded a British warship in Gandia for his evacuation into exile.
Answer: True
Explanation: Casado left Madrid on March 28, 1939, and boarded a British warship in Gandia for his exile.
Upon reaching France, Segismundo Casado López did not immediately return to Spain; instead, he proceeded to the United Kingdom.
Answer: True
Explanation: After leaving Spain, Casado traveled to France and then proceeded to the United Kingdom, rather than returning to Spain.
What was a key objective for Casado and the CND in their negotiations with the Nationalists?
Answer: To arrange for the evacuation of those wishing to leave Spain.
Explanation: A primary goal for Casado and the CND during negotiations was to arrange the evacuation of individuals desiring to leave Spain.
Why did Casado's negotiations with the Nationalists ultimately fail?
Answer: The Nationalists demanded an immediate and unconditional surrender.
Explanation: The negotiations failed because the Nationalists insisted on an immediate and unconditional surrender, which Casado and the CND could not accept.
Where did Casado board a British warship for his evacuation from Spain?
Answer: Gandia
Explanation: Casado boarded a British warship in Gandia for his evacuation from Spain.
While working for the BBC World Service, Segismundo Casado López used the pseudonym 'Coronel Juan de Padilla', not his own name.
Answer: True
Explanation: Casado provided commentary for the BBC World Service under the pseudonym 'Coronel Juan de Padilla'.
During his exile, Segismundo Casado López authored 'The Last Days of Madrid', later republished as 'Así cayó Madrid', which served as a defense against accusations of surrendering the Republic prematurely.
Answer: True
Explanation: Casado wrote 'The Last Days of Madrid' during his exile, a work later republished as 'Así cayó Madrid', intended to counter criticisms of his actions.
Following his tenure with the BBC, Segismundo Casado López was employed by Nestlé subsidiaries in Colombia and Venezuela for over a decade.
Answer: True
Explanation: After leaving the BBC, Casado worked for Nestlé subsidiaries in Latin America for more than ten years.
Upon returning to Spain in 1961, Segismundo Casado López initially faced no legal repercussions, though applying for a pension later led to brief house arrest.
Answer: True
Explanation: Casado returned to Spain in 1961 and, despite a prior conviction in absentia, faced only brief house arrest after applying for a pension.
Segismundo Casado López's first marriage did not produce children; his two children were born from his second marriage.
Answer: True
Explanation: Casado's first marriage was childless; his two children were with his second wife, María del Carmen Santodomingo de Vega.
Following Segismundo Casado López's exile, his second wife and children remained in Spain, facing imprisonment and passport denial.
Answer: True
Explanation: After Casado's exile, his wife and children stayed in Spain, experiencing imprisonment and difficulties obtaining passports.
Segismundo Casado López had a daughter, María Cristina, with Norah Purcell, though the child tragically died in infancy.
Answer: True
Explanation: Casado fathered a daughter, María Cristina, with Norah Purcell; the child died in 1946.
In 1951, Segismundo Casado López's wife and two children successfully joined him in exile in Venezuela.
Answer: True
Explanation: Casado's wife and children were able to join him in Venezuela in 1951.
Segismundo Casado López's brother, César, supported the Republican cause during the Spanish Civil War, not Franco.
Answer: True
Explanation: César Casado, Segismundo's brother, was a supporter of the Republican side during the Spanish Civil War.
Under what pseudonym did Casado provide commentary for the BBC World Service?
Answer: Coronel Juan de Padilla
Explanation: Casado worked for the BBC World Service using the pseudonym 'Coronel Juan de Padilla'.
Which multinational company did Casado work for in Colombia and Venezuela during his exile?
Answer: Nestlé
Explanation: During his exile, Casado was employed by Nestlé subsidiaries in Colombia and Venezuela.
How many children did Segismundo Casado have with his second wife, María del Carmen Santodomingo de Vega?
Answer: Two
Explanation: Segismundo Casado and his second wife, María del Carmen Santodomingo de Vega, had two children.
Which side did Casado's brother, César, support during the Spanish Civil War?
Answer: The Republicans
Explanation: Casado's brother, César, supported the Republican faction during the Spanish Civil War.
Segismundo Casado López did not hold strong Communist political beliefs; his leanings were progressive, opposing dictatorship.
Answer: True
Explanation: Casado's political leanings were progressive, characterized by opposition to dictatorship, rather than Communist affiliation.
Segismundo Casado López's writings and actions suggest a commitment to democratic principles and liberty, opposing authoritarian regimes.
Answer: True
Explanation: Casado's documented views and actions indicate a dedication to democracy and liberty, alongside opposition to dictatorial rule.
Records indicate that Segismundo Casado López joined Freemasonry in Madrid during the 1920s.
Answer: True
Explanation: Evidence suggests Segismundo Casado López became a member of Freemasonry in Madrid in the 1920s.
Segismundo Casado López's private papers from the 1950s contain evidence of antisemitic language and sentiments.
Answer: True
Explanation: Antisemitic language has been identified in Segismundo Casado López's personal papers dating from the 1950s.
In Francoist Spain, Segismundo Casado López was not celebrated; rather, he was tried and sentenced in absentia, and streets were not named in his honor.
Answer: True
Explanation: Contrary to any notion of celebration, Casado was tried in absentia and faced condemnation in Francoist Spain; no streets were named in his honor.
Hugh Thomas's assessment viewed Casado as politically naive and less far-sighted than Negrín, rather than astute or successful in navigating the war's end.
Answer: True
Explanation: Hugh Thomas characterized Casado as politically naive and less strategically astute than Prime Minister Negrín in his analysis of the war's conclusion.
Casado's book 'Así cayó Madrid' was generally well-received and defended his actions, countering accusations of surrendering the Republic, not criticized for sympathy to Communists.
Answer: True
Explanation: The book 'Así cayó Madrid' received positive reviews, serving as a defense of Casado's actions against claims of premature surrender, rather than being criticized for pro-Communist sentiment.
Modern historical interpretations since the 1980s increasingly question the premise of an imminent Communist takeover, reframing Casado's coup as an action against the legal government, rather than a necessary strike.
Answer: True
Explanation: Post-1980s scholarship often disputes the imminent Communist coup narrative, viewing Casado's action as a coup against the legitimate government.
Paul Preston critically assessed Casado as a figure driven by personal ambition whose actions precipitated a significant humanitarian disaster.
Answer: True
Explanation: Paul Preston's analysis strongly criticized Casado, identifying personal ambition as a primary driver for actions that led to a humanitarian crisis.
Segismundo Casado has indeed been depicted as a protagonist in Spanish novels and theatre, reflecting his controversial role in history.
Answer: True
Explanation: Casado's historical significance has led to his portrayal as a character in Spanish literature and drama.
The actor Fernando Rey was not the son of Segismundo Casado; this is a common misconception.
Answer: True
Explanation: It is a common misconception that the actor Fernando Rey was Segismundo Casado's son; this is factually incorrect.
Some modern commentators view Casado's coup as a pragmatic, albeit controversial, act of realism aimed at ending the conflict, while others condemn it as treasonous.
Answer: True
Explanation: Contemporary views on Casado's coup are divided, with some seeing it as pragmatic realism and others as treason.
What political leaning is suggested by Casado's writings about childhood poverty and his opposition to dictatorship?
Answer: Progressive / Left-leaning
Explanation: Casado's reflections on poverty and his opposition to dictatorships suggest progressive or left-leaning political inclinations.
How has the historical interpretation of Casado's 1939 coup evolved since the 1980s?
Answer: Scholars increasingly view it as a coup against the legal government, questioning the Communist threat.
Explanation: Since the 1980s, historical interpretations have shifted, with many scholars questioning the alleged Communist threat and viewing Casado's coup as an action against the legitimate government.
Which historian strongly criticized Casado in a 2016 work, portraying him as driven by personal ambition?
Answer: Paul Preston
Explanation: Paul Preston, in a 2016 publication, critically assessed Casado as being motivated by personal ambition and causing significant harm.
What is the current status of streets named after Segismundo Casado in Spain?
Answer: A street in his hometown was renamed, and none currently exist.
Explanation: Currently, no streets in Spain are named after Segismundo Casado; a street in his hometown was previously named for him but has since been renamed.
Which of the following is a common misconception about Segismundo Casado?
Answer: That he was related to the actor Fernando Rey.
Explanation: A prevalent misconception is that Segismundo Casado was the father of the actor Fernando Rey, which is factually incorrect.