Madrid Distinction

Distintivo de Madrid
Pennant
TypeBadge
Awarded forValour
Presented bythe Spanish Republic
EligibilityShips and personnel of the Spanish Republican Navy
StatusAwarded 1938–1939
Established23 January 1938

The Madrid Distinction (Spanish: Distintivo de Madrid) was one of the highest military awards of the Second Spanish Republic. It was a decoration related to the Laureate Plate of Madrid.[1] which was established by the Second Spanish Republic in order to reward courage.[2] In the same manner as the Laureate Plate of Madrid, it was named after Madrid, the capital of Spain, owing to the city symbolizing valour and the defence of the Second Spanish Republic during the long Siege of Madrid, which lasted from November 1936 through March 1939 during the Spanish Civil War.[3] Unlike the Laureate Plate of Madrid, the Distintivo de Madrid displayed the former coat of arms of Madrid and not the red star, a symbol often associated with communist ideology.

History

The Distintivo de Madrid was established on 23 January 1938, It was first awarded to certain warships of the Spanish Republican Navy as well as to their crew members for their role in the Battle of Cape Palos of 5–6 March 1938. The admiral commanding the Spanish Republican Navy, Luis González de Ubieta, received the Laureate Plate of Madrid for the same action.[4]

The Spanish Civil War ended in April 1939 with the defeat of the Second Spanish Republic by the National faction and the establishment of Francoist Spain, which meant the end of the short existence of the Madrid Distinction.

Awardees

Ships

The following Spanish Republican Navy ships flew the Distintivo de Madrid special pennant.

Personnel

All the crew members of the ships that took part in the Cape Palos naval battle were awarded the Distintivo de Madrid. They were issued a special cloth badge to wear on their uniforms.[4]

See also

References

  1. ^ Legislacíón sobre la Placa Laureada de Madrid y Distintivo de Madrid, Revista de Historia Militar, ISSN 0482-5748, Nº Extra 2, 2011, pp. 299-316
  2. ^ Luis Grávalos & José Luis Calvo, Condecoraciones Militares Españolas, Editorial San Martin, 1988, ISBN 8471402661
  3. ^ Second Spanish Republic 23 January 1938 Decree
  4. ^ a b Enrique García Domingo, Recompensas republicanas por el hundimiento del Baleares, Revista de Historia Naval, 1997, Año XV no. 59, pg. 70
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