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On 4 October, 1936, the Basque Statute of Autonomy was enacted. The Basque Government was established shortly afterwards, and Public Safety became one of the main issues. |
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The Government Department, headed by nationalist Telesforo Monzón, addressed the issue of Public Order in Euskadi, and created the following institutions: International Police, Maritime Police, and Public Order Corps. Amongst the main measures taken by the Basque Government in regards to Public Safety, was the creation of the Ertzaņa, which included an Infantry Division and a Motorised Division, with a total of 1200 men. |
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The Infantry Division of the Ertzaņa was made up of four Companies; each one of them had a transport section, an administration section and a service corps department. The companies were commanded by Chief Commander Luis Ortruzar and Captains Ocerin, Losada, Ormazabal and Leclerc. |
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The Ertzaņa Igiletua, or motorised division, rode fast motorbikes and drove English Riley cars which had been brought to Bilbao. |
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General Franco's Dictatorship did not bother to dissolve the "Ertzaņa": since it was the creation of the Basque Government, and the dictatorship did not recognise the Basque Government, the "Ertzaņa" was simply understood not to exist. |
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