Falange Española de las JONS the Second Spanish Republic. Expanding rapidly from several thousand to several hundred thousand members, the Falange's male membership was accompanied by a female auxiliary, the "Sección Femenina". Led by José Antonio's sister Pilar, this latter subsidiary organization claimed more than a half million members by the end of the Civil War and provided nursing and support services for the Nationalist forces. The command of the party rested upon Manuel Hedilla as many of the first generation leaders were dead or incarcerated by the Republicans. Among them was José Antonio Primo de Rivera, who was a Government prisoner. As a result,
Fernando Primo de Rivera Fernando Primo de Rivera Fernando Primo de Rivera y Sobremonte, 1st Marquess of Estella, 12th Count of Peña Vélez, 17th Count of Torres Rovellas, 23rd Count of Sobremonte (24 July 1831 – 23 May 1921) was a Spanish politician, and soldier. Fernando Primo de Rivera was the son of Antonio Hermenegildo Primo de Rivera y Sobremonte, 22nd Count of Sobremonte (1787–1833) and his wife Ana María de Torres Rovellas y Peña Vélez (1811–1865); she was the daughter of Miguel de Torres Rovellas y Peña Vélez, 13th Count of Torres Rovellas, 8th Marquess of Peña Vélez (1764–1851). His grandfather was Bértrand