Juan Andreu Almazán
Encyclopedia
General Officer Juan Andreu Almazán (May 12, 1891 – 1965) was a Mexican
revolutionary
soldier
, politician
, and businessman.
of Olinalá in the State of Guerrero
. He was born to Juan Andreu Pareja, a farmer
of Catalan
ethnicity, and María Almazán Nava, who was, according to Juan Andreu Almazán, a descendant of Moctezuma I
.
in Puebla
, where he started political and military opposition against the then-dictator
Porfirio Díaz
. He worked for Francisco I. Madero
's presidential campaign to prevent Díaz's re-election. When the Mexican Revolution
began, he joined the revolutionary
party
and abandoned his studies.
As an early supporter of Francisco Madero, he followed him into exile in October 1910. In April 1911 he appeared in Morelos
and made contact with Zapata
. There he presented himself as an agent of Madero, and convinced Zapata to fight under Madero’s banner.
In November 1911, almost immediately after Madero was elected president, Zapata broke with Madero and renewed his fight against the government of Mexico City. Juan Andreu Almazán sided with Zapata and joined the rebellion against Madero.
When Madero was deposed by Victoriano Huerta
in February 1913, Huerta put out peace feelers to all the rebel groups. Zapata had a great dislike of Huerta, and refused to make peace. Andreu Almazán, however, had no dislike of Huerta, and elected to follow Huerta. He was given a combat command, and thereafter, became associated with Pascual Orozco
, who had also joined Huerta. He and his forces fought against the forces of Pancho Villa
.
When Huerta was defeated in August 1914, Andreu Almazán and several other generals associated with Orozco and known as ‘Colorados’, moved south and joined forces with Zapata. Still, Zapata did not integrate them into his forces, but allowed them to operate mainly in the state of Puebla.
The high-water mark of Andreu Almazán’s military career came in December 1914, when his Colorado forces, supported by the forces of Zapata, forced the Constitutionalist Army of Carranza out of the city of Puebla, claiming it for the Liberation Army of the South, and the Government of the Convention.
The glory was short lived, however, because the following month, Obregón’s
Constitutionalist Army forced Almazán and the Colorados out of Puebla. Thereafter, Andreu Almazán continued to fight against Carranza and his government as a guerrilla faction.
Andreu Almazán continued to associate himself with Zapata until the summer of 1916. In the early summer, Félix Díaz returned to Mexico and called for the rebel forces of Mexico to join him in the fight against Carranza. As Zapata’s cause seemed to be failing, Andreu Almazán chose to align himself with Félix Díaz.
Throughout 1915, 1916 and 1917, Andreu Almazán operated in the area of Guerrero, Puebla and Oaxaca, primarily as an independent rebel force, yet putting out public pronouncements that he supported either Zapata or Felix Díaz.
In early 1918, he changed is base of operations and operated in northeast Mexico, as a rebel force supporting Felix Díaz.
With the Agua Prieta revolt
of 1920, Andreu Almazán supported the rebel forces that removed Carranza and established Obregón as President. For his support, Obregón’s government confirmed his rank as a general. In 1921, he was promoted to Division General, the highest rank in the army. During the 1920s he became director and principal stockholder of a road-building firm, and began investing his profits in industrial and real estate holdings in Monterrey, Mexico City and Acapulco. He was loyal to President Calles, and as Communications Minister in Ortiz Rubio’s cabinet in the early 1930s, he enlarged his already considerable fortune by granting government concessions, such as the Pan American Highway construction job from Laredo to Mexico City to his own company. During the Cárdenas
administration, he acquired vast holdings in silver mines. By 1939 he had become one of Mexico’s wealthiest citizens.
In May 1939, he requested retirement
from the Mexican Army
, which was granted to him on June 30, 1939. On July 25, 1939, he announced publicly his right-wing candidacy for president
in the election
s that would take place the following year. His supporters, led by former Zapatista Antonio Díaz Soto y Gama
, formed the National Action Party. Andreu Almazán was also supported by the Laborist Party. The 1940 elections were violent and irregular and many believe that Andreu Almazán was the real winner. Crying fraud, Andreu Almazán left Mexico hoping to build support for an insurrection. When it became clear that little support for him existed, he gave up on the idea of a violent revolt. He returned to Mexico and attended the inauguration of Manuel Ávila Camacho
.
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
revolutionary
Revolutionary
A revolutionary is a person who either actively participates in, or advocates revolution. Also, when used as an adjective, the term revolutionary refers to something that has a major, sudden impact on society or on some aspect of human endeavor.-Definition:...
soldier
Soldier
A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
, politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, and businessman.
Early life
Juan Andreu Almazán was born on May 12, 1891 in the municipalityMunicipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
of Olinalá in the State of Guerrero
Guerrero
Guerrero officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Guerrero is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 81 municipalities and its capital city is Chilpancingo....
. He was born to Juan Andreu Pareja, a farmer
Farmer
A farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, who raises living organisms for food or raw materials, generally including livestock husbandry and growing crops, such as produce and grain...
of Catalan
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
ethnicity, and María Almazán Nava, who was, according to Juan Andreu Almazán, a descendant of Moctezuma I
Moctezuma I
Moctezuma I , also known as Motecuhzoma Ilhuicamina, Huehuemotecuhzoma or Montezuma I , was the fifth Aztec emperor - king of Tenochtitlan...
.
Political and military career
In 1907, he enrolled in a medical schoolMedical school
A medical school is a tertiary educational institution—or part of such an institution—that teaches medicine. Degree programs offered at medical schools often include Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Bachelor/Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Philosophy, master's degree, or other post-secondary...
in Puebla
Puebla
Puebla officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Puebla is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 217 municipalities and its capital city is Puebla....
, where he started political and military opposition against the then-dictator
Dictator
A dictator is a ruler who assumes sole and absolute power but without hereditary ascension such as an absolute monarch. When other states call the head of state of a particular state a dictator, that state is called a dictatorship...
Porfirio Díaz
Porfirio Díaz
José de la Cruz Porfirio Díaz Mori was a Mexican-American War volunteer and French intervention hero, an accomplished general and the President of Mexico continuously from 1876 to 1911, with the exception of a brief term in 1876 when he left Juan N...
. He worked for Francisco I. Madero
Francisco I. Madero
Francisco Ignacio Madero González was a politician, writer and revolutionary who served as President of Mexico from 1911 to 1913. As a respectable upper-class politician, he supplied a center around which opposition to the dictatorship of Porfirio Díaz could coalesce...
's presidential campaign to prevent Díaz's re-election. When the Mexican Revolution
Mexican Revolution
The Mexican Revolution was a major armed struggle that started in 1910, with an uprising led by Francisco I. Madero against longtime autocrat Porfirio Díaz. The Revolution was characterized by several socialist, liberal, anarchist, populist, and agrarianist movements. Over time the Revolution...
began, he joined the revolutionary
Revolutionary
A revolutionary is a person who either actively participates in, or advocates revolution. Also, when used as an adjective, the term revolutionary refers to something that has a major, sudden impact on society or on some aspect of human endeavor.-Definition:...
party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
and abandoned his studies.
As an early supporter of Francisco Madero, he followed him into exile in October 1910. In April 1911 he appeared in Morelos
Morelos
Morelos officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Morelos is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 33 municipalities and its capital city is Cuernavaca....
and made contact with Zapata
Emiliano Zapata
Emiliano Zapata Salazar was a leading figure in the Mexican Revolution, which broke out in 1910, and which was initially directed against the president Porfirio Díaz. He formed and commanded an important revolutionary force, the Liberation Army of the South, during the Mexican Revolution...
. There he presented himself as an agent of Madero, and convinced Zapata to fight under Madero’s banner.
In November 1911, almost immediately after Madero was elected president, Zapata broke with Madero and renewed his fight against the government of Mexico City. Juan Andreu Almazán sided with Zapata and joined the rebellion against Madero.
When Madero was deposed by Victoriano Huerta
Victoriano Huerta
José Victoriano Huerta Márquez was a Mexican military officer and president of Mexico. Huerta's supporters were known as Huertistas during the Mexican Revolution...
in February 1913, Huerta put out peace feelers to all the rebel groups. Zapata had a great dislike of Huerta, and refused to make peace. Andreu Almazán, however, had no dislike of Huerta, and elected to follow Huerta. He was given a combat command, and thereafter, became associated with Pascual Orozco
Pascual Orozco
Pascual Orozco Vazquez was a Mexican revolutionary leader who, after the triumph of the Mexican Revolution, rose up against Francisco I...
, who had also joined Huerta. He and his forces fought against the forces of Pancho Villa
Pancho Villa
José Doroteo Arango Arámbula – better known by his pseudonym Francisco Villa or its hypocorism Pancho Villa – was one of the most prominent Mexican Revolutionary generals....
.
When Huerta was defeated in August 1914, Andreu Almazán and several other generals associated with Orozco and known as ‘Colorados’, moved south and joined forces with Zapata. Still, Zapata did not integrate them into his forces, but allowed them to operate mainly in the state of Puebla.
The high-water mark of Andreu Almazán’s military career came in December 1914, when his Colorado forces, supported by the forces of Zapata, forced the Constitutionalist Army of Carranza out of the city of Puebla, claiming it for the Liberation Army of the South, and the Government of the Convention.
The glory was short lived, however, because the following month, Obregón’s
Álvaro Obregón
General Álvaro Obregón Salido was the President of Mexico from 1920 to 1924. He was assassinated in 1928, shortly after winning election to another presidential term....
Constitutionalist Army forced Almazán and the Colorados out of Puebla. Thereafter, Andreu Almazán continued to fight against Carranza and his government as a guerrilla faction.
Andreu Almazán continued to associate himself with Zapata until the summer of 1916. In the early summer, Félix Díaz returned to Mexico and called for the rebel forces of Mexico to join him in the fight against Carranza. As Zapata’s cause seemed to be failing, Andreu Almazán chose to align himself with Félix Díaz.
Throughout 1915, 1916 and 1917, Andreu Almazán operated in the area of Guerrero, Puebla and Oaxaca, primarily as an independent rebel force, yet putting out public pronouncements that he supported either Zapata or Felix Díaz.
In early 1918, he changed is base of operations and operated in northeast Mexico, as a rebel force supporting Felix Díaz.
With the Agua Prieta revolt
Plan of Agua Prieta
The Plan of Agua Prieta was a manifesto, drawn up in the form of a plan, during the Mexican Revolution.Drafted and signed by supporters of Gen. Álvaro Obregón, the Plan repudiated the government of President Venustiano Carranza...
of 1920, Andreu Almazán supported the rebel forces that removed Carranza and established Obregón as President. For his support, Obregón’s government confirmed his rank as a general. In 1921, he was promoted to Division General, the highest rank in the army. During the 1920s he became director and principal stockholder of a road-building firm, and began investing his profits in industrial and real estate holdings in Monterrey, Mexico City and Acapulco. He was loyal to President Calles, and as Communications Minister in Ortiz Rubio’s cabinet in the early 1930s, he enlarged his already considerable fortune by granting government concessions, such as the Pan American Highway construction job from Laredo to Mexico City to his own company. During the Cárdenas
Lázaro Cárdenas
Lázaro Cárdenas del Río was President of Mexico from 1934 to 1940.-Early life:Lázaro Cárdenas was born on May 21, 1895 in a lower-middle class family in the village of Jiquilpan, Michoacán. He supported his family from age 16 after the death of his father...
administration, he acquired vast holdings in silver mines. By 1939 he had become one of Mexico’s wealthiest citizens.
In May 1939, he requested retirement
Retirement
Retirement is the point where a person stops employment completely. A person may also semi-retire by reducing work hours.Many people choose to retire when they are eligible for private or public pension benefits, although some are forced to retire when physical conditions don't allow the person to...
from the Mexican Army
Mexican Army
The Mexican Army is the combined land and air branch and largest of the Mexican Military services; it also is known as the National Defense Army. It is famous for having been the first army to adopt and use an automatic rifle, , in 1899, and the first to issue automatic weapons as standard issue...
, which was granted to him on June 30, 1939. On July 25, 1939, he announced publicly his right-wing candidacy for president
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
in the election
Elections in Mexico
Elections in Mexico determine who, on the national level, takes the position of the head of state – the president – as well as the legislature.The President of Mexico is elected for a six-year term by the people...
s that would take place the following year. His supporters, led by former Zapatista Antonio Díaz Soto y Gama
Antonio Díaz Soto y Gama
Antonio Diaz Soto y Gama was a revolutionary during the Mexican Revolution and Mexican politician.His parents were Conrad Diaz Soto y Gama and Dona Concepcion Cruz...
, formed the National Action Party. Andreu Almazán was also supported by the Laborist Party. The 1940 elections were violent and irregular and many believe that Andreu Almazán was the real winner. Crying fraud, Andreu Almazán left Mexico hoping to build support for an insurrection. When it became clear that little support for him existed, he gave up on the idea of a violent revolt. He returned to Mexico and attended the inauguration of Manuel Ávila Camacho
Manuel Ávila Camacho
Manuel Ávila Camacho served as the President of Mexico from 1940 to 1946.Manuel Ávila was born in the city of Teziutlán, a small town in Puebla, to middle-class parents, Manuel Ávila Castillo and Eufrosina Camacho Bello. He had several siblings, among them sister María Jovita Ávila Camacho and...
.