Gonzalo Queipo de Llano - Autumn of 1936 and The Conquest of Malaga City, February 1937

Autumn of 1936 and The Conquest of Malaga City, February 1937

Red soldiers, lower you arms. The Caudillo forgives and redeems. Follow the example of those comrades before you who have joined our ranks. Only like that will you achieve victory. Happiness in your homes and peace in your souls.

Queipo de Llano's radio address on Radio Sevilla to Republican soldiers in Seville

As commander in the South, Queipo de Llano was a primary rival to General Francisco Franco Bahamonde for ultimate leadership of the nationalist cause. At a meeting outside Salamanca on September 21, 1936, however, the leading generals agreed that Franco would be the supreme military leader of the cause. Queipo's association with republicanism and freemasonry greatly harmed his chances to assume overall leadership - even he voted for Franco's elevation.

Appointed commander of the Nationalist Army of the South, General Queipo de Llano's forces launched an Battle of Málaga on Málaga on January 17, 1937, and the city succumbed to the Nationalists on February 8, with the support of the Corps of Volunteer Troops (Corpo Truppe Volontarie, or CTV), the Italian expeditionary force that fought alongside Franco's forces in the Spanish Civil War since December 1936. He also carried out propaganda broadcasts during the war.

Though Franco had been installed as the supreme military leader of the nationalists, Queipo de Llano retained a strong power base in the south, which he governed almost as an independent viceroy. He was eager to organise forced labour in the nationalist regions and restart the agricultural production in Andalusia with cheap exports to Europe becoming an important economic factor of the regime. A competent administrator, he effectively stopped smuggling and capital flight, and negotiated trade agreements with Portugal.