National Defence Council (Spain)

National Defence Council

Consejo Nacional de Defensa
The leaders of the National Defence Council upon their arrival to the United Kingdom: Segismundo Casado, on the left; Wenceslao Carrillo, wearing a hat.
Formation	5 March 1939 (1939-03-05)
Founded at	Madrid
Dissolved	28 March 1939; 85 years ago (1939-03-28)
Type	Governing Council
Purpose	Defense of Spain
Headquarters	Madrid, Real Casa de la Aduana, Calle de Alcalá
Location	Palacio de Cibeles
Coordinates	40°25′02″N 3°42′07″W / 40.417281°N 3.701827°W / 40.417281; -3.701827
Region	Southeast Spain
President	José Miaja

The National Defence Council (Spanish: Consejo Nacional de Defensa) was the governing body in Republican Spain at the end of the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939). The council seized power with Colonel Segismundo Casado's coup on 5 March 1939 when it was clear that the Republicans had lost the war. The leaders hoped to negotiate an end to hostilities with the rebel forces led by General Francisco Franco. However, Franco insisted on unconditional surrender, and on 26 March 1939 launched the final offensive of the Spanish Civil War. By the end of the month he controlled the whole country. Most of the council members escaped into exile on British warships.