Mariano Gamir Ulibarri

Mariano Gámir Ulíbarri 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.