Santiago
Carrillo
was
born in Gijon, Spain, on 18th January,
1915. He joined the Socialist Party
(PSOE) and as a student played an important role in the Federación
de Juventudes Socialistas (FJS).
In 1934 Carrillo was elected
as secretary-general of the FTS and became editor of its newspaper,
Renovación. He used his
position to support the left-wing of the PSOE led by Francisco
Largo Caballero.
Carrillo's support for
the Asturian rising in October 1934 led to his arrest. Along with
other PSOE leaders Carrillo was imprisoned in Madrid.
Carrillo was released from
prison after the Popular Front victory
in February, 1936. He visited the Soviet Union
and after his return worked closely with Comintern
agents in Spain. This included turning
the FJS into an communist organization. Carrillo announced his membership
of the Communist Party (PCE) on 6th
November 1936.
In the Spanish
Civil War Carrillo was based in Madrid. Later, General Francisco
Franco accused
him of arranging the executions of a large number of Nationalist supporters
in the city.
After the Nationalist
Army victory,
Carrillo fled to France. On the outbreak
of the Second World War Carrillo moved to the
Soviet Union where he became general secretary
of the Spanish Communist Party (1960-1982)
in exile.
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