He escaped, returned to Valencia, and was briefly given command of a brigade, but was moved to a less responsible post due to doubts about his ability.

After the war he lived in exile in France, where he wrote his memoirs, before being allowed to return to Spain a few years before his death.

He entered the Infantry Academy at the age of fifteen and advanced rapidly in the army due to his unusual technical skills and strength of character.

He remained loyal to the Republic when the Spanish Civil War began with General Francisco Franco's rebellion in July 1936.

His troops played an active role on the Aragon front in the early stages of the Civil War.

General Francisco Llano de la Encomienda had been appointed commander of the Army of the North by the Republic.

In face of an immediate threat to Bilbao he ordered greater mobilization, accelerated work on fortifications and redeployment of the defending troops.

In the remaining defense of the north Gámir showed himself a capable professional, but did not have the forces needed to succeed against the Nationalists.

[4] To stop the advance of Franco's troops he had more than 80,000 soldiers grouped into four corps, nearly 300 artillery pieces, 40 aircraft and 17 anti-aircraft.

The city held 160,000 refugees, and its supply routes from the sea were being attacked by Nationalist ships and aircraft.

[6] On 22 August 1937 Gámir convened a meeting in Santander with José Antonio Aguirre, the government's Defense delegate, the military commanders and representatives of the political organizations.

[1] The Council of Asturias elected Colonel Adolfo Prada to command the Army of the North in place of Gámir.