y, saying after that he was a really loved and respected person. The People listen to him and they kill him because that.
Not much later it was created the “Project of Cantabrian- Castilian Statute” that didn’t have the chance to be put in practice because the war. In this project was pictured a near independent state for Cantabria, with the possibility for the cantabrian territories under other countries or provinces to go back to the original motherland. This is the more progressive statute project that we have since then. Much more progressive in all aspects that the actual one.
The Invasion of Cantabria
In the north the situation was complicated. The connection was the central and south part of the State was broken because the coup d’etat was a success and fascist were dominant and powerful in Castilla. But also Galicia the coup d’etat was a success . In Asturias parts of the west and the most important city, Oviedo, fall in their hands. In the other side in Euskadi, where the catholic were very influent half of the territory follow the fascists. The nationalists, catholic themselves, in the other half had not a very clear position in the first moments but at the end they decide to be loyal to the Republic.
Only Cantabria remains from the first day, 18 of July the day of the coup d’etat, loyal to the Republic of the Popular Front. The People, the revolutionaries organizations move fast and they were decided to fight and defeat the fascist. They found true allies in some soldiers and some members of the State forces. The fascist were defeat the same day in all the Country and even no big fight happened.
High officers off the Police, some high officers of the Army and the high politicians and members of the Spanish Administration keep the support for the Republic. They had little chance.
The People, the working class support the left and were deeply antifascist. Even some people tough Cantabrian People were conservative and that they were going to support the fascist. They have a deep and quick sad view of the reality. Most of the people oppose the coup d’etat and the fascism. And more important is that thousand and thousand of Cantabrians were decided to fight against them. Even kids try to join the reds militias.
After the Cup d’etat the Independence of Cantabria was a fact. Our Country was no longer physically dependant of the Spanish State. But the difficult situation outside Cantabria was going to influence.
The day after the defeat of the fascist the political contacts to make a Cantabrian Council started. It was set up fast. Apart of the official representation of the old administration (representatives of the army, state forces and old politicians like the province president were there) was some representation from the trade-unions and left-wing organizations. We passed in one day to be part of Castile,a Province, to a separated Land and independent Country..
The structures of the administration where filled with locals and nationals (an unusual fact because under direct Spanish Republic rule and before the majority was from other parts of the State, specially teachers). The Cantabrian Council organize without external help the daily life. Cantabria eat what Cantabria produce and what was able to exchange out of it borders (something very difficult indeed). And finally the Cantabrian Council organize quickly the Cantabrian Army (Santanderinian called at that time) to defend the territory. A Special Unit of volunteers was formed with the name of “Luciano Malumbres” to honour the popular leader killed by fascists terrorists. And it was trained by a former legionary that was surprise of their decision, discipline and will to fight as he told in a interview to a newspaper at that time. Even people with more than 50 years present themselves as volunteers to go to fight the fascism and defend Cantabria.
Many battalions were also sent both to Asturias and to Euskadi to help in the defence.
A tragic and the event was going to shock again the People of Santander and Cantabria when at the end of the year, in Christmas ti