José Luis de Arrese
José Luis de Arrese | |
---|---|
Born | José Luis de Arrese y Marga 15 April 1905 |
Died | 6 April 1986 | (aged 80)
Nationality | Spanish |
Education | Doctorate in architecture |
Occupation | Architect |
Known for | Politician |
Notable work | La Revolucion Social del Nacional Sindicalismo (1940) |
Political party | FET y de las JONS |
José Luis de Arrese y Marga (15 April 1905 – 6 April 1986) was a leading Spanish politician with both the Falange and its successor movement the FET y de las JONS.
Early years
Arrese was born in
Falangism
It is unclear when Arrese first joined the Falange as sources disagree. Philip Rees states that Arrese was a founder member of the group in 1933[1] but Wayne H. Bowen states that he did not become a member until 1936.[2] Either way however Arrese associated himself with the camisa vieja tendency, a hardline faction made up of early members of the movement.[2]
At the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War Arrese found himself in the Republican zone and took refuge in the Embassy of Norway before escaping to the Nationalist section in 1937.[1] A close associate of Manuel Hedilla, he backed his ally in his quarrel with Francisco Franco and as a consequence was sentenced to two years imprisonment by a Francoist military tribunal. However his release was promptly arranged by General Gonzalo Queipo de Llano, a Francoist who nonetheless had a good relationship with Arrese.[1] He returned to some influence as jefe provincial of Málaga in December 1937 and helped to ensure the development of low cost housing and efficient fuel provision in the region.[1] He was a strong supporter of the national syndicalism that formed part of original Falangist ideology and published a book in 1940 entitled La Revolucion Social del Nacional Sindicalismo.[1]
Nazism
An enthusiastic supporter of
Post-war
He enjoyed a return of sorts in 1956 when Franco dismissed Raimundo Fernández-Cuesta as the leader of the paramilitary Blue Shirts, although in truth the role had lost much of its importance as both the Army and the Monarchists had grown in power at the expense of the traditional Falangists.[8] In attempt to regain control for the Falangists he approached Franco the following year with a new draft constitution that would enshrine totalitarianism in Spain and threatened to resign if it was denied. Franco however rejected the move, endorsing a much more pro-monarchy document and, in a cabinet reshuffle, handing Arrese the humiliation of the very minor portfolio of Minister of Housing.[9] By 1960 Arrese had disappeared from any governmental role.[10]
Disillusioned by the development of post-war Spain he made a speech in 1958 on the anniversary of the death of José Antonio Primo de Rivera in which he stated "you [Primo de Rivera] cannot be satisfied with this mediocre, sensual life".[1] He left his role as Minister of Housing in 1960 after being refused an increase in departmental social housing budget.[1] He retired from public life, eventually settling in Corella where he died in 1986.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Philip Rees, Biographical Dictionary of the Extreme Right Since 1890, Harvester Wheatsheaf, 1990, p. 14
- ^ a b Wayne H. Bowen, Spain During World War II, University of Missouri Press, 2006, p. 86
- ^ E. de Blaye, Franco and the Politics of Spain, Penguin Books, 1976, p. 148
- ^ De Blaye, Franco, p. 147
- ^ Bowen, Spain, p. 86
- ^ Wayne H. Bowen, Spaniards and Nazi Germany, University of Missouri Press, 2000, p. 150
- ^ De Blaye, Franco, p. 161
- ^ De Blaye, Franco, p. 187
- ^ De Blaye, Franco, pp. 193-4
- ^ De Blaye, Franco, p. 194