José Antonio Primo de Rivera

Falange Española (1933–1937) Fascists and Nazis 1903–1936 ✕ Executed by firing squad

Son of the dictator Miguel Primo de Rivera who founded the Falange Española

Born in Madrid, the eldest son of Miguel Primo de Rivera, dictator of Spain from 1923 to 1930, he worked as a lawyer. Entering politics through a monarchist group to defend his father’s memory, he founded the national syndicalist Falange Española in October 1933 and won a seat in that year’s election. In February 1934 the Falange merged with Ramiro Ledesma’s JONS under his leadership. He endorsed the 1936 military coup against the Republic but was already in prison when the war began; convicted of conspiracy and military rebellion, he was shot in November 1936. Francoist Spain revered him as a martyr.

Also known as: José Antonio Primo de Rivera y Sáenz de Heredia