Antonio Ibáñez Freire
Encyclopedia
Antonio Ibáñez Freire was a Spanish politician and military commander. He was minister of the interior of Spain
from 1979 - 1980.
He was born in Vitoria
. After passing the Military Academy of Zaragoza, he was appointed lieutenant of infantry and participated in the Spanish Civil War
revolting against the Second Spanish Republic
. Later he enlisted as a volunteer in the Blue Division
taking part in the Second World War, in which he was awarded the Iron Cross
by Nazi Germany. He was civil governor of the province of Santander in 1960 and occupied the same position in Vizcaya (1961) and Barcelona (1963).
In 1978 he was appointed Captain General
of the Fourth Military Region. In 1979, he was appointed Minister of the Interior, where he remained until 1980.
Ministry of the Interior (Spain)
The Ministry of Interior of Spain which historically could be known as Ministerio de la Gobernación, Ministerio del Orden Público, Ministerio del Interior y la Gobernación or Ministerio del Interior y Justicia is the executive branch responsible for policing, national security, and immigration...
from 1979 - 1980.
He was born in Vitoria
Vitoria-Gasteiz
Vitoria-Gasteiz is the capital city of the province of Álava and of the autonomous community of the Basque Country in northern Spain with a population of 235,661 people. It is the second largest Basque city...
. After passing the Military Academy of Zaragoza, he was appointed lieutenant of infantry and participated in the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
revolting against the Second Spanish Republic
Second Spanish Republic
The Second Spanish Republic was the government of Spain between April 14 1931, and its destruction by a military rebellion, led by General Francisco Franco....
. Later he enlisted as a volunteer in the Blue Division
Blue Division
The Blue Division officially designated as División Española de Voluntarios by the Spanish Army and 250. Infanterie-Division in the German Army, was a unit of Spanish volunteers that served in the German Army on the Eastern Front of the Second World War.-Origins:Although Spanish leader Field...
taking part in the Second World War, in which he was awarded the Iron Cross
Iron Cross
The Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
by Nazi Germany. He was civil governor of the province of Santander in 1960 and occupied the same position in Vizcaya (1961) and Barcelona (1963).
In 1978 he was appointed Captain General
Captain General
Captain general is a high military rank and a gubernatorial title.-History:This term Captain General started to appear in the 14th century, with the meaning of commander in chief of an army in the field, probably the first usage of the term General in military settings...
of the Fourth Military Region. In 1979, he was appointed Minister of the Interior, where he remained until 1980.