Mariano Gámir Ulíbarri
| Mariano Gámir Ulíbarri | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | 1877 Madrid, Spain |
| Died | 1962 Valparaíso de Abajo, Cuenca, Spain |
| Allegiance |
 Spanish Republic
|
| Service/branch | Army |
| Rank | General |
| Commands held | 5th Infantry Brigade (1936), 6th Infantry Brigade (1937), Northern Army (1937), 6th Infantry Brigade (1938). |
| Battles/wars | Spanish Civil War |
Mariano Gámir Ulíbarri (1877–1962) was a Spanish general who fought on the Republican side during the Spanish Civil War (1936–39). He was Basque, a career soldier, and had no political affiliation. He commanded a brigade on the Aragon front in the early months of the war, then was assigned to command the Basque forces in May 1937. He retreated westward from Basque country in June 1937 when attacked by greatly superior Nationalist forces. Soon after he was given command of the Army of the North, and tried to defend Santander. When this fell, he moved to Asturias, where he was replaced as commander. He escaped, returned to Valencia, and was briefly given command of a brigade, but was moved to a less responsible post due to doubts about his ability. After the war he lived in exile in France, where he wrote his memoirs, before being allowed to return to Spain a few years before his death.
Mariano Gámir Ulíbarri was born in 1877 to a Basque family. He entered the Infantry Academy at the age of fifteen and advanced rapidly in the army due to his unusual technical skills and strength of character. He was appointed brigadier general in 1933, and a few months later was made director of the Toledo Infantry Academy. He remained loyal to the Republic when the Spanish Civil War began with General Francisco Franco's rebellion in July 1936. He was sent to Valencia in July 1936 and led the 5th Infantry Brigade. In early 1937 he also took command of the 6th Infantry Brigade. His troops played an active role on the Aragon front in the early stages of the Civil War.
At the start of Spring in 1937 there were two rival commanders of the Basque army. General Francisco Llano de la Encomienda had been appointed commander of the Army of the North by the Republic. José Antonio Aguirre, president of the Basque Country, had proclaimed himself commander of the Basque Army. The destruction of Guernica by bombing in April 1937 showed the weakness of the Republican defense. On 31 May 1937 Indalecio Prieto decided to appoint Gámir to command the Basque army. However, he was not given command of the rest of the Army of the North. Aguirre found Gámir more acceptable than Llano de la Encomienda. Gamir was truly apolitical, unconnected to any of the parties of the left, a qualified commander and a Basque.
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