Nicolás Rodríguez Carrasco
Nicolás Rodríguez Carrasco | |
|---|---|
Rodríguez Carrasco's Revolutionary Mexicanist Action portrait, circa 1934 | |
| Born | 1890 |
| Died | August 11, 1940 (aged 49 or 50) Mexico |
| Years active | 1923–1938 |
| Known for | Co-founder and Leader of Revolutionary Mexicanist Action |
| Spouse | Leonor Gutiérrez |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance | División del Norte (1911–1914) Carrancistas (1914–1918) |
| Years of service | 1911 — 1918 |
| Rank | Brigadier general |
| Jefe Supremo of the Acción Revolucionaria Mexicanista | |
| In office 1934–1940 | |
| Preceded by | Roque González Garza |
Nicolás Rodríguez Carrasco (1890 – August 11, 1940) was a Mexican general, revolutionary, and the founder and leader of the fascist paramilitary organization Revolutionary Mexicanist Action, better known as the Gold Shirts.
Throughout his life, Rodríguez Carrasco took part in multiple rebellions against Mexican governments. By the 1930s, he had become an admirer of Adolf Hitler and campaigned through his paramilitary group to expel Jews, Chinese, and communists from Mexico. His Gold Shirts organization was largely supported and protected by Plutarco Elías Calles as both Calles and Rodríguez Carrasco were staunch opponents of the 1934–1940 Cárdenas government. After Calles's exile in 1935 and the subsequent loss of his protection, Rodríguez Carrasco was expelled from Mexico in August 1936.
During his second exile in Texas, Rodríguez Carrasco and the Revolutionary Mexicanist Action planned a coup against the Mexican government. Planning and preparations were largely funded by fascist organizations based in Europe as well as by Texan oil tycoons and COPARMEX following the Mexican oil expropriation. On January 31, 1938, insurgents launched an attack on the city of Matamoros, Tamaulipas, but were quickly thwarted by the Mexican national guard.