Francisco Largo Caballero

Francisco Largo Caballero , 1869-1946, Spanish Socialist leader and politician. A trade union leader, he initially followed opportunistic policies and even collaborated with the dictatorship of Primo de Rivera (1923-30). After the overthrow of the monarchy he began to move in a more radical direction, first as minister of labor (1931-33) and then in the opposition. He was leader of the Socialists who broke up the electoral coalition with the progressive Republicans in Nov., 1933, and who organized the revolution of Oct., 1934, against the rightward draft of the new governments. His radical propaganda early in 1936 is considered an important factor in bringing the civil war of 1936-39. He was premier (1936-37) of a leftist coalition cabinet, but was ousted under Communist pressure by his colleagues for alleged inefficiency in prosecuting the war effort. He fled to France in 1939. After four years of imprisonment by the Germans, he died in Paris.

Largo, Caballero Francisco (1869–1946) Spanish statesman. As a socialist he was imprisoned for life in 1917 for taking part in a general strike, but he was released on his election to Parliament in 1918. After the fall of PRIMO DE RIVERA (1930) he joined the government of the Second Republic as Minister for Labour. After this collapsed he was imprisoned again (1934–35) for supporting an abortive rising, but was acquitted and released. He was leader of the Popular Front, which won the elections of February 1936, but did not become Prime Minister until September 1936, two months after the outbreak of the SPANISH CIVIL WAR, when he headed a coalition of socialists, republicans, and communists. He resigned following a communist take-over in Barcelona in May 1937.