page_title: National Defence Council (Spain)
section_title: Coup
hierarchical_section_title: National Defence Council (Spain) / Coup
caption_attribution_description: Español: Julián Besteiro Fernández
context_page_description: The National Defence Council was the governing body in Republican Spain at the end of the Spanish Civil War.
  The council seized power with Colonel Segismundo Casado’s coup on 5 March 1939 when it was clear that the Republicans had lost the war.
  The leaders hoped to negotiate an end to hostilities with the rebel forces led by General Francisco Franco.
  Franco insisted on unconditional surrender, and on 26 March 1939 launched the final offensive of the Spanish Civil War.
  By the end of the month he controlled the whole country. Most of the council members escaped into exile on British warships.
context_section_description: Casado set up his base at 7 p.m. on Sunday, 5 March 1939 in the building of the former Ministry of Finance.
  As he wrote later "This very old building lent itself to a good plan of defense in the event of a Communist uprising." 
  He had been joined by most of his fellow conspirators by 8 p.m.
  Besteiro, the most prominent person among them, proposed that Casado become both president and responsible for defense.
  Casado said he would only temporarily preside over the council until General Miaja arrived from Valencia.
  Mera reached the Ministry of Finance at 9 p.m.
  The formation of the National Defense Council (Consejo Nacional de Defensa) was announced on Union Radio at 10 p.m.
  The members of the council were named, with representatives from most of the political parties and groups who had supported the Republic.
  Besteiro and Casado both spoke.
  Casado claimed that Negrín was planning a Communist takeover. 
  The objective of the council was to seek an armistice with the rebels and end the fratricidal war.
  Cipriano Mera, Miguel San Andrés and José del Rio also spoke.
  San Andrés, now responsible for Justice, read the somewhat vague official manifesto of the council.
  The president and directors of the council were:
  Rafael Sánchez Requena represented the Partido Sindicalista as secretary to the council.Toribio Martínez Cabrera had been appointed military governor of Madrid in December 1938 by Negrín's government.
  Casado appointed him undersecretary in the council.Juan López Sánchez  was another member of the council.
  After the National Defense Council was formed, a new Comité Nacional del Movimiento Libertario Español (National Committee of the Spanish Libertarian Movement) was formed on 7 March 1939 with Juan López as secretary-general.
caption: Julián Besteiro, one of the coup leaders
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