Juan Ibarrola [SEP] conflict
Juan Ibarrola
Juan Ibarrola Orueta (1900 in Llodio, Álava – 1976) was a Spanish military commander who fought with the Republicans during the Spanish Civil War. He was a captain of the Civil Guard ("Guardia Civil"); unlike many of his fellow officers he rallied to the Republic when the Nationalist rising began. Featured in the war in Morocco, the coup d'état of July 1936 that led to the Civil War he was captain of the Guardia Civil in Bilbao and took command of a column to expel the
strong air support (including the German "Legión Cóndor", partly based on the Cue Aerodrome). The pass of El Mazuco is only five km from the sea, and so the cruiser "Almirante Cervera" was also able to use its 6 in. guns in the action.
The Asturian and some Basque and Santander forces (Republicans) comprised three weakened brigades (fewer than 5,000 men in all), under the command of Colonels Juan Ibarrola Orueta and Francisco Galán Rodríguez (Ibarrola and Galán) in Meré,