HIRIART Spanish Civil War General Staff with Franco & Astray (1 Viewer)

[ucla1967]

This is the first look at a special set that I commissioned from Hiriart for four other collectors and me: ES-41 SPANISH CIVIL WAR GENERAL STAFF WITH FRANCO & ASTRAY. It should be arriving here next week from Uruguay in the fourth part of the 2109 order.

 

[jazzeum]

Interesting set. Astray seems a curious choice.

 

[ucla1967]

Interesting set. Astray seems a curious choice.

Astray (and Franco) was requested by the collector who originally ordered the set. You are correct that he would not be normally associated with the Nationalist General Staff, but is none the less an interesting figure. He was the founder and first commander of the Spanish Foreign Legion and suffered terrible wounds including the loss of his left arm and right eye.

 

[jazzeum]

Oh, I thought this was for you. Didn’t realize it was for one of your customers. Who are the other figures.

 

[ucla1967]

Oh, I thought this was for you. Didn’t realize it was for one of your customers. Who are the other figures.

They are from left to right:

1) General Miguel Cabanellas

2) General Andres Saliquet

3) General Emilio Mola

4) Generalisimo Francisco Franco

5) General Millan de Astray

6) General Jose Sanjurjo

7) Almirante Salvador Moreno Fernandez

8) General Jose Solchaga Zala


Guillermo did not sculpt new heads for these figures for the most part, but used existing heads painted to resemble the particular General Staff officer as closely as possible. General Mola should be wearing glasses, but they didn't look right and were omitted.

 

[jazzeum]

Thanks Mike. I’m not a quibbler for historical accuracy but Sanjurjo, who was the most senior officer in the Army, died in a plane crash just as the War was beginning and so wouldn’t have been on the General Staff, unless this set is supposed to show the Staff before the Alzamiento. That Mola later died in a plane crash also led some to believe that Franco was behind both deaths. It wouldn’t surprise me but there’s no proof and Sanjurjo’s plane crashed because he was carrying too much luggage.

 

[ucla1967]

Thanks Mike. I’m not a quibbler for historical accuracy but Sanjurjo, who was the most senior officer in the Army, died in a plane crash just as the War was beginning and so wouldn’t have been on the General Staff, unless this set is supposed to show the Staff before the Alzamiento. That Mola later died in a plane crash also led some to believe that Franco was behind both deaths. It wouldn’t surprise me but there’s no proof and Sanjurjo’s plane crashed because he was carrying too much luggage.

Brad, I am the one who characterized this set as a Staff Officers set, but it is clearly more of set featuring historically important Nationalist officers as exemplified by the inclusion of Astray, Sanjurjo, and Mola in the set.

 

[jazzeum]

Thanks Mike. However, if I had been having a set made I would have chosen Franco, Mola, Varela, Cabanellas, Quiepo de Llano, Davila and probably Goded. Of course, this is not a set I would have ordered but to each his own. Thanks for posting the photos and having a little conversation about it. The War gets so little attention in the US these days.

 

[ucla1967]

Here is the set tied into its' box as received yesterday.