Belarmino Tomás
Encyclopedia
Belarmino Tomás Álvarez was a socialist
politician.
A secretary of the Sindicato Minero Asturiano (the local coal miners
' branch of the Unión General de Trabajadores
, UGT), and a delegate to the International Miners' Federation. As a prominent labor organizer, Tomás led militia
s formed by workers during the "Revolution of Asturias" of October 1934, being the president of the new revolutionary state(5-15 of October).He did the revolution not just to face only the right-wing government,but also the properly Spanish second republic. He subsequently took part in the elections of 1936 as a candidate for the Popular Front
, being elected a deputy
with the election victory the Front carried.
When the Spanish Civil War
erupted, Belarmino Tomás led the miners' militias attacking Oviedo
(held by Francisco Franco
's forces). He was voted President of the Consejo Soberano de Asturias y León upon its creation on August 24, 1937. In Gijón on October 20, the day the city was taken by Franco's forces, Tomás left for the Republican zone and continued fighting on several fronts, exiling himself when the Popular Front was defeated in early 1939.He was also popular because of the Belarminos, the money that was used in this declarated-state during his presidence.
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
politician.
A secretary of the Sindicato Minero Asturiano (the local coal miners
Coal mining
The goal of coal mining is to obtain coal from the ground. Coal is valued for its energy content, and since the 1880s has been widely used to generate electricity. Steel and cement industries use coal as a fuel for extraction of iron from iron ore and for cement production. In the United States,...
' branch of the Unión General de Trabajadores
Unión General de Trabajadores
The Unión General de Trabajadores is a major Spanish trade union, historically affiliated with the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party .-History:...
, UGT), and a delegate to the International Miners' Federation. As a prominent labor organizer, Tomás led militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
s formed by workers during the "Revolution of Asturias" of October 1934, being the president of the new revolutionary state(5-15 of October).He did the revolution not just to face only the right-wing government,but also the properly Spanish second republic. He subsequently took part in the elections of 1936 as a candidate for the Popular Front
Popular Front (Spain)
The Popular Front in Spain's Second Republic was an electoral coalition and pact signed in January 1936 by various left-wing political organisations, instigated by Manuel Azaña for the purpose of contesting that year's election....
, being elected a deputy
Spanish Congress of Deputies
The Spanish Congress of Deputies is the lower house of the Cortes Generales, Spain's legislative branch. It has 350 members, elected by popular vote on block lists by proportional representation in constituencies matching the Spanish provinces using the D'Hondt method. Deputies serve four-year terms...
with the election victory the Front carried.
When 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...
erupted, Belarmino Tomás led the miners' militias attacking Oviedo
Oviedo
Oviedo is the capital city of the Principality of Asturias in northern Spain. It is also the name of the municipality that contains the city....
(held by Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco y Bahamonde was a Spanish general, dictator and head of state of Spain from October 1936 , and de facto regent of the nominally restored Kingdom of Spain from 1947 until his death in November, 1975...
's forces). He was voted President of the Consejo Soberano de Asturias y León upon its creation on August 24, 1937. In Gijón on October 20, the day the city was taken by Franco's forces, Tomás left for the Republican zone and continued fighting on several fronts, exiling himself when the Popular Front was defeated in early 1939.He was also popular because of the Belarminos, the money that was used in this declarated-state during his presidence.