Jaime Milans del Bosch
Encyclopedia
Jaime Milans del Bosch y Ussía (8 June 1915, Madrid - 26 July 1997, Madrid) was a Lieutenant General
in the Spanish Army
who was dismissed in 1981 for his role in the failed coup d'état of 23 February 1981 (23-F)
.
. Jaime Milans del Bosch is reported to have repeatedly boasted of how many of his ancestors had participated in coups d'état.
In 1934, he entered the military academy of Toledo
. As a cadet, he fought in the Civil War
at the Alcázar of Toledo
, where he was injured during a republican bombing. Shortly afterwards, he received his officer's commission in the Spanish Foreign Legion. In 1941, Bosch joined the Blue Division
to fight against the Soviet Union under German command.
After the war, he held successive positions as Military attaché
in the Spanish embassies in Argentina
, Uruguay
, Chile
and Paraguay
.
Promoted to Brigadier General
in 1971 and Major General
in 1974, he was appointed commander of the 3rd military district (headquartered in Valencia
) in 1977, at the rank of Lieutenant-General (Teniente general).
had stormed Congress
, he ordered tanks onto the streets of Valencia
and decreed a state of emergency
.
After the televised message of king Juan Carlos I, those in the military who had not yet pronounced themselves decided to remain on the side of the government, causing the coup to fail. Despite the lack of support, Milans del Bosch only surrendered at 5 a.m. on the next day, 24 February.
led on 8 March 1981. On 3 June 1982, he was sentenced to a 26 years and 8 months prison term and expelled from the army. Barely 9 years later, in 1991, he was pardoned and released due to advanced age. He never expressed remorse for his involvement in the coup.
He returned to live in his native Madrid, where he died of a brain tumor
in 1997. He is buried at the Alcázar of Toledo
.
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
in the Spanish Army
Spanish Army
The Spanish Army is the terrestrial army of the Spanish Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is one of the oldest active armies - dating back to the 15th century.-Introduction:...
who was dismissed in 1981 for his role in the failed coup d'état of 23 February 1981 (23-F)
23-F
23-F was an attempted coup d'état in Spain that began on 23 February 1981 and ended on the following day. It is also known as El Tejerazo from the name of its most visible figure, Antonio Tejero, who led the failed coup's most notable event: the bursting into the Spanish Congress of Deputies by a...
.
Biography
Milans del Bosch was born into a noble family whose members had held many senior military ranks. His was the grandson of Joaquín Milans del BoschJoaquín Milans del Bosch
Joaquín Milans del Bosch y Carrió was a Spanish military officer of Catalan origin...
. Jaime Milans del Bosch is reported to have repeatedly boasted of how many of his ancestors had participated in coups d'état.
In 1934, he entered the military academy of Toledo
Toledo, Spain
Toledo's Alcázar became renowned in the 19th and 20th centuries as a military academy. At the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in 1936 its garrison was famously besieged by Republican forces.-Economy:...
. As a cadet, he fought in the 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...
at the Alcázar of Toledo
Alcázar of Toledo
The Alcázar of Toledo is a stone fortification located in the highest part of Toledo, Spain. Once used as a Roman palace in the 3rd century, it was restored under Charles I and Philip II of Spain in the 1540's...
, where he was injured during a republican bombing. Shortly afterwards, he received his officer's commission in the Spanish Foreign Legion. In 1941, Bosch joined 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...
to fight against the Soviet Union under German command.
After the war, he held successive positions as Military attaché
Military attaché
A military attaché is a military expert who is attached to a diplomatic mission . This post is normally filled by a high-ranking military officer who retains the commission while serving in an embassy...
in the Spanish embassies in Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
, Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
and Paraguay
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
.
Promoted to Brigadier General
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
in 1971 and Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
in 1974, he was appointed commander of the 3rd military district (headquartered in Valencia
Valencia (city in Spain)
Valencia or València is the capital and most populous city of the autonomous community of Valencia and the third largest city in Spain, with a population of 809,267 in 2010. It is the 15th-most populous municipality in the European Union...
) in 1977, at the rank of Lieutenant-General (Teniente general).
23-F
Milans del Bosch was the only senior army commander who supported the coup without reservation and conducted offensive operations of importance. On 23 February 1981, shortly after Antonio TejeroAntonio Tejero
Antonio Tejero Molina is a Spanish former Lieutenant Colonel of the Guardia Civil, and the most visible figure in the attempted coup d'état – also known as the 'Tejerazo' – against the Spanish democracy on 23 February 1981....
had stormed Congress
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...
, he ordered tanks onto the streets of Valencia
Valencia (city in Spain)
Valencia or València is the capital and most populous city of the autonomous community of Valencia and the third largest city in Spain, with a population of 809,267 in 2010. It is the 15th-most populous municipality in the European Union...
and decreed a state of emergency
State of emergency
A state of emergency is a governmental declaration that may suspend some normal functions of the executive, legislative and judicial powers, alert citizens to change their normal behaviours, or order government agencies to implement emergency preparedness plans. It can also be used as a rationale...
.
After the televised message of king Juan Carlos I, those in the military who had not yet pronounced themselves decided to remain on the side of the government, causing the coup to fail. Despite the lack of support, Milans del Bosch only surrendered at 5 a.m. on the next day, 24 February.
Court-martial and dishonorable discharge
Milans del Bosch was court-martialCourt-martial
A court-martial is a military court. A court-martial is empowered to determine the guilt of members of the armed forces subject to military law, and, if the defendant is found guilty, to decide upon punishment.Most militaries maintain a court-martial system to try cases in which a breach of...
led on 8 March 1981. On 3 June 1982, he was sentenced to a 26 years and 8 months prison term and expelled from the army. Barely 9 years later, in 1991, he was pardoned and released due to advanced age. He never expressed remorse for his involvement in the coup.
He returned to live in his native Madrid, where he died of a brain tumor
Brain tumor
A brain tumor is an intracranial solid neoplasm, a tumor within the brain or the central spinal canal.Brain tumors include all tumors inside the cranium or in the central spinal canal...
in 1997. He is buried at the Alcázar of Toledo
Alcázar of Toledo
The Alcázar of Toledo is a stone fortification located in the highest part of Toledo, Spain. Once used as a Roman palace in the 3rd century, it was restored under Charles I and Philip II of Spain in the 1540's...
.