Segismundo Casado
An examination of the life, military career, and pivotal actions of a Spanish Army officer during a tumultuous period of Spanish history.
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Biographical Overview
Key Dates
Born: 10 October 1893, Nava de la Asunción, Segovia, Spain
Died: 18 December 1968 (aged 75), Madrid, Spain
Rank & Allegiance
Rank: Colonel (later promoted to General)
Allegiance: Spanish Republic
Key Commands
Commander of an Army Corps (1938)
Commander of the Army of the Centre (1939)
Military Career Trajectory
Early Service and Education
Casado entered the Cavalry Academy in Valladolid in 1907, graduating in 1911. He served in various cavalry regiments and completed numerous military courses, including those in military riding, marksmanship, and explosives. By 1919, he had attained the rank of Captain. His early career included service in Spanish Morocco during the Rif War and postings in various garrisons across Spain.
Advancement and Command
After obtaining his General Staff diploma in 1923, Casado continued his progression. He served as an auxiliary professor at the School of Higher Studies and was promoted to Comandante in 1929. He held positions such as commander of the presidential guard for Niceto Alcalá-Zamora and later Manuel Azaña. During the Spanish Civil War, he rose through the ranks, serving in key operational roles and commanding significant units like the XVIII and XXI Army Corps. He was promoted to Colonel in May 1938 and General in February 1939.
Publications and Ideals
Throughout his career, Casado authored studies on military organization and strategy, including "Organización del Ejército Francés" and "Empleo de la División de Caballería en el Servicio de Exploración estratégica." Some sources suggest he was an advocate for armored units replacing traditional cavalry. While his political views were complex, he is generally considered to have been on the Left, opposing the Primo de Rivera dictatorship and later, the perceived Communist influence within the Republican government.
The Coup of March 1939
Doubts and Opposition
By 1938, Casado harbored significant doubts about Prime Minister Juan Negrín's strategy of continued resistance in the Spanish Civil War. He became convinced the war was lost and that further fighting would only lead to needless casualties and destruction. He attributed the prolongation of the conflict to Communist interests aligned with the Soviet Union.
Secret Negotiations and Alliance
In late 1938, Casado initiated secret peace talks with the Nationalist forces. He became the undisputed leader of a conspiracy involving most of the military command, supported by Anarchist and Socialist factions. On March 5, 1939, this group declared the formation of the National Defence Council (Consejo Nacional de Defensa - CND), asserting control over the Republican zone under the pretext of preventing an imminent Communist takeover.
Flight and Surrender
On March 28, Casado departed Madrid for Valencia. While some accounts suggest he attempted to arrange mass evacuations, others indicate he did little to facilitate them. In the early hours of March 30, he boarded a British warship in Gandía, beginning his exile.
Life in Exile and Return
Initial Exile and BBC Role
Casado was transported to Marseille and then to the United Kingdom. He received support from British refugee committees and, from late 1939, worked for the BBC World Service, commenting on military affairs under the pseudonym "Coronel Juan de Padilla." His book, "The Last Days of Madrid," was published during this period, with suggestions of British intelligence involvement in its rapid release.
Career with Nestlé
In 1947, Casado moved to Colombia as an employee of Cicolac, a subsidiary of Nestlé. He later transferred to Indulac, Nestlé's Venezuelan subsidiary, where he spent 12 years as a commercial representative. His work became increasingly challenging as he approached 60 and experienced health issues.
Return to Spain
Casado returned to Spain in 1961, settling in Madrid. Despite a past conviction for rebellion, he initially faced no significant legal repercussions. However, his application for a military pension in 1962 triggered an investigation. Although charges were eventually dropped, he was briefly placed under house arrest. Facing financial difficulties, he re-published his book in Spanish as "Así cayó Madrid" in 1967, further criticizing Negrín.
Personal Life and Family
Marriages and Children
Casado was married twice. His first marriage, to María de las Mercedes de la Calle Condado around 1920, produced no offspring and ended without clear details of divorce or annulment. His second marriage, to María del Carmen Santodomingo de Vega in the mid-1930s, resulted in two children, Carmen and Segismundo Casado Santodomingo. His wife and children remained in Spain after his 1939 exile, facing imprisonment and difficulties obtaining passports, despite Casado's efforts aided by British diplomacy.
Complex Relationships
During his exile in the early 1940s, Casado formed a relationship with Norah Purcell, with whom he had a daughter, María Cristina, who died in 1946. He later reunited with his second wife and children in Venezuela in 1951, but the family soon separated again, with his wife and children eventually remaining in Venezuela while he returned to Spain.
Sibling and Family Ties
Casado had at least one brother, César, who also pursued a career in the cavalry and progressed similarly through the ranks. Despite their parallel military careers, the brothers had a falling out, and Segismundo explicitly forbade his children from accepting financial assistance from César after the war.
Political Outlook and Ideology
Progressive Republicanism
Casado's political leanings were broadly on the Left. His upbringing in poverty instilled a sensitivity to social injustice. While he joined the military, traditionally a pillar of the establishment, he opposed the Primo de Rivera dictatorship and defended officers accused of conspiracy. He did not appear to harbor grievances against the Second Republic, serving in roles related to presidential security.
Anti-Communism and Pragmatism
His loyalty to the Republic during the Civil War is undisputed. However, by late 1936, some scholars suggest he developed a strong opposition to the Communists, whom he blamed for his perceived sidelining from key operational roles. Historian Paul Preston describes him as driven by personal resentment, though not necessarily political ideology. While his brother was linked to Anarchism, there's no evidence Segismundo aligned with Anarchism or Socialism. His views are often seen as aligning with Manuel Azaña's radical left-wing republicanism.
Public Perception and Legacy
Historical Interpretations
In Francoist Spain and early academic historiography, Casado was often depicted as the leader of a pre-emptive anti-Communist strike. Hugh Thomas, in his seminal work, portrayed Casado as less far-sighted than Negrín, perhaps naive, but well-intentioned. Casado's own writings, like "Así cayó Madrid," were received as a defense against accusations of betraying the Republic.
Evolving Narratives
Since the 1980s, historical consensus has shifted, questioning the existence of an imminent Communist coup and framing Casado's actions more as a coup against the legitimate government, potentially driven by personal ambition. This perspective suggests his actions facilitated the Francoist victory and contributed to a humanitarian disaster. Conversely, some recent authors argue he represented realism and humanitarianism against fanaticism.
Modern Discourse
In contemporary public discourse, opinions on Casado range widely, from condemnation as a traitor to praise as a hero and patriot. His legacy remains a subject of debate, with some historians viewing his coup as a critical error that enabled the Franco dictatorship. His name was once associated with a street in his hometown but has since been removed, reflecting the contested nature of his historical role.
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References
References
- Segismundo Casado López, [in:] Real Academia de Historia service
- see e.g. Angel Viñas, Casado López, Segismundo, [in:] Javier Garcia Fernández, 25 militares de la República, Madrid 2020, ISBN 9788490914403, p. 213
- La Correspondencia Militar 19.07.1928
- El Año Politico 1927, p. 84
- Gaceta jurÃdica de guerra y marina 01.12.1929
- Segismundo Casado López, [in:] Real Academia de Historia service
- BiografÃa de Segismundo Casado, [in:] La BiografÃa service
- Paul Preston, The Last Days of the Spanish Republic, London 2016, ISBN 9780008163419, pp. 87-115
- Antony Beevor, The Battle for Spain. The Spanish Civil War 1936-1939, London. 2006, pp. 394-395
- in 1939 Casado explitictly forbade his children to accept financial help from her, Preston 2016, p. 307
- AgustÃn Carreras Zarama, El archivo privado de don Rafael Fernández de la Calzada y Ferrer, [in:] BoletÃn Informativo Sistema ArchÃvistico de la Defensa 13 (2007), p. 10
- Annuario Militar de España 1913, p. 46
- El Siglo Futuro 14.01.1936
- Ficha de Cesar Casado Lopez, [in:] Centro Documental de la Memoria Histórica
- El dia grafico 30.07.1938
- see Pedro López Ortega, Coronel Segismundo Casado López. Defensor de la Justicia, la Libertad y la República, Sevilla 2018, ISBN 9788417146474
- he joined "la logia masonica madrilena Hispano-Americana no. 2" under the name of "Berenguer", Vinas 2020, p. 213
- ABC 31.03.1944
- Antonio Ballesteros Beretta, SÃntesis de historia de España, Madrid 1952, p. 558; José Manuel Cuenca Toribio, Historia de España, vol. 2, Madrid 1973, p. 388
- Thomas 2001, pp. 861-884. He was described as âable, cultivated, austere and hard-working; he lived as simply as if he were the most junior soldier, and worked as if he were the commander-in-chief, Thomas 2001, p. 863
- Diario de Burgos 19.12.1968
- Ricardo de la Cierva, Historia ilustrada de la guerra civil española, vol. 2, Madrid 1973, p. 493
- R. H. Haigh, D. S. Morris, Anthony R. Peters, The Guardian Book of the Spanish Civil War, London 1987, ISBN 9780704530805, p. 316
- compare "anticomunista furibundo con no pocas angustias por la frustración de su carrera", Ramón Tamames, España 1931-1975; una antológia histórica, Madrid 1980, ISBN 9788432056598, p. 209
- AgustÃn Monzón, La traición de Casado, [in:] El Independiente 02.03.2019
- Alfonso Vila Francés, Casado, ¿Heroe o traidor?, [in:] Le Miau Noir blog,
- Angel Viñas, Fernando Hernández Sánchez, El golpe de Casado y el final de la guerra, [in:] El PaÃs 05.03.2009
- Callejero.Net service
- ABC 15.05.1992
- ABC 28.03.2001
- ABC 16.04.2001
- La Vanguardia 02.08.2017
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