Madrid Distinction

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 it was named after Madrid, the capital of Spain, owing to the city symbolizing valour and the defence of the Spanish Republic during the long Siege of Madrid throughout the Spanish Civil War.[3]

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

History

The Distintivo de Madrid was first awarded in January 1938 to certain warships of the loyalist fleet as well as to their crew members for their role in the Battle of Cape Palos. Meanwhile the admiral of the Spanish Republican Navy, Luis González de Ubieta, was awarded the Laureate Plate of Madrid for the same action.[4]

The war ended in April the following year with the defeat of the Spanish Republic by the rebel faction and this meant the end of the short existence of this military award. Unlike the Laureate Plate of Madrid, the Madrid Distinction displayed the former coat of arms of Madrid and not the red star, a symbol often associated with communist ideology.

Awardees

Vessels

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

Persons

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. 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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