The three-pointed red star, symbol of the International Brigades

The International Brigades were Republican military units in the Spanish Civil War, formed of many non-state sponsored volunteers of different countries who traveled to Spain, to fight for the republic in the Spanish Civil War between 1936 and 1939. An estimated 32,000^[1] people from a "claimed 53 nations"^[1] volunteered. They fought against rebel Spanish Nationalist forces, who were led by General Francisco Franco and assisted by Nazi German and Fascist Italian forces. Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Anthem El Himno de Riego Capital Madrid Language(s) Spanish Government Republic President  - 1931–1936 Niceto Alcalá-Zamora  - 1936–1939 Manuel Azaña Legislature Congress of Deputies Historical era Interwar period  - Monarchy abolished April 14, 1931  - Spanish Civil War 1936–1939  - Surrender to Franco April 1, 1939 Currency Spanish peseta... It has been suggested that Martyrs of the Spanish Civil War be merged into this article or section. ... It has been suggested that Martyrs of the Spanish Civil War be merged into this article or section. ... 1936 (MCMXXXVI) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Year 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Nationalism is an ideology that creates and sustains a nation as a concept of a common identity for groups of humans. ... General Francisco Paulino Hermenegildo Teódulo Franco Bahamonde (4 December 1892 - November 20, [1] 1975), commonly abbreviated to Francisco Franco (pron. ... National Socialism redirects here. ... Fascism (in Italian, fascismo), capitalized, was the authoritarian political movement which ruled Italy from 1922 to 1943 under the leadership of Benito Mussolini. ...

Constitution of the Brigades

For military structure and organization, see International Brigades order of battle

Using foreign Communist Parties to recruit volunteers for Spain was first proposed in Moscow in September 1936 – perhaps at the suggestion of Maurice Thorez - by Willi Münzenberg, chief of Comintern propaganda for Western Europe. As a security measure, non-Communist volunteers would first be interviewed by an NKVD agent. The International Brigades Star The International Brigades (IB) were volunteer military units who fought on the side of the Second Spanish Republic during the Spanish Civil War. ... In modern usage, the term communist party is generally used to identify any political party which has adopted communist ideology. ... For other uses, see Moscow (disambiguation). ... Maurice Thorez Maurice Thorez (April 28, 1900–July 11, 1964) was a French statesman and longtime leader of the French Communist Party (PCF) from 1930 until his death. ... Willi Münzenberg (August 14, 1889–October 21, 1940) was a leading propagandist for the KPD (Kommunistische Partei Deutschlands, Communist Party of Germany) in the Weimar Era. ... The Comintern (Russian: Коммунистический Интернационал, Kommunisticheskiy Internatsional – Communist International, also known as the Third International) was an international Communist organization founded in March 1919, in the midst of the war communism period (1918-1921), by Vladimir Lenin and the Russian Communist Party (Bolshevik), which intended to fight by all available means, including... The NKVD (Narodny Komissariat Vnutrennikh Del  ) (Russian: , ) or Peoples Commissariat for Internal Affairs was the leading secret police organization of the Soviet Union that was responsible for political repressions during Stalinism. ...

By the end of September, the Italian and French Communist Parties had decided to set up a column. Luigi Longo, ex-leader of the Italian Communist Youth, was charged to make the necessary arrangements with the Spanish government. The Soviet Ministry of Defense also helped, since they had experience of dealing with corps of international volunteers (during the Russian Civil War). The idea was initially opposed by Largo Caballero, but after the first setbacks of the war, he changed his mind, and finally agreed to the operation on 22 October. However, the Soviet Union did not withdraw from the Non-Intervention Committee, probably to avoid diplomatic conflict with France and the United Kingdom. Luigi Longo (1900 - 1980) was an Italian Communist political figure. ... Soviet redirects here. ... Francisco Largo Caballero (October 15, 1869 -March 23, 1946) was a Spanish politician and trade unionist. ... is the 294th day of the year (295th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The purpose of Non-Intervention Committee (1936-1939) was to prevent personnel and matériel reaching the warring parties of the Spanish Civil War. ...

Republican poster. The text reads The International Brigades, in the heart of the popular army, help to defend your wealth and land. Notice the arm-band which features the emblem of the International Brigades, a three-pointed red star.

The main recruitment centre was in Paris, under the supervision of Polish communist colonel Karol "Walter" Swierczewski. On 17 October 1936, an open letter by Stalin to José Díaz was published in Mundo Obrero, arguing that liberation for Spain was a matter not only for Spaniards, but also for the whole of "progressive Humanity"; in a matter of days, support organisations for the Spanish Republic were founded in most countries, all more or less controlled by the Comintern. Propaganda poster about the International Brigades File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Propaganda poster about the International Brigades File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... This article is about the capital of France. ... Karol Świerczewski, Marian Spychalski and Michal Rola-Zymierski Karol Świerczewski, (callsign Walter) (22 February 1897 in Warsaw – 28 March 1947 at Jabłonki near Baligród) was a military officer, general in service of Poland, Russia and Spain and a communist activist. ... is the 290th day of the year (291st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1936 (MCMXXXVI) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Iosif (usually anglicized as Joseph) Vissarionovich Stalin (Russian: Иосиф Виссарионович Сталин), original name Ioseb Jughashvili (Georgian: იოსებ ჯუღაშვი&#4314... José Díaz (1896, Sevilla—March 19, 1942, Tbilisi, Georgian SSR) was a Spanish trade unionist and communist politician. ... The Comintern (Russian: Коммунистический Интернационал, Kommunisticheskiy Internatsional – Communist International, also known as the Third International) was an international Communist organization founded in March 1919, in the midst of the war communism period (1918-1921), by Vladimir Lenin and the Russian Communist Party (Bolshevik), which intended to fight by all available means, including...

Paths were arranged for volunteers: for instance, Josip Broz, who would became famous as Marshal Tito, was in Paris to provide assistance, money and passports for the volunteers from Eastern Europe. Volunteers were sent by train or ship from France to Spain, and sent to the base at Albacete. However, many of them also went by themselves to Spain. The volunteers were under no contract, nor defined engagement period, which would later prove a problem. Josip Broz Tito (May 7, 1892 - May 4, 1980) was the ruler of Yugoslavia between the end of World War II and his death in 1980. ... Pre-1989 division between the West (grey) and Eastern Bloc (orange) superimposed on current national boundaries: Russia (dark orange), other countries of the former USSR (medium orange),members of the Warsaw pact (light orange), and other former Communist regimes not aligned with Moscow (lightest orange). ... Albacete its origins is derived from Arabic Al Basita (the plain, or the simple). ...

Also many Italians, Germans, and people from other countries with repressive governments joined the movement, with the idea that combat in Spain was a first step to restore democracy or advance a revolutionary cause in their own country. There were also many unemployed workers (especially from France), and adventurers. Finally, some 500 Communists who had been exiled to Russia were sent to Spain (among them, experienced military leaders from the First World War like "Kléber" Stern, "Gomez" Zaisser, "Lukacs" Zalka and "Gal" Galicz, who would prove invaluable in combat). “The Great War ” redirects here. ... Manfred Stern (aka Emilio Kléber, Lazar Stern, Moishe Stern, Mark Zilbert) (1896-1954) was a member of Soviet Military Intelligence (GRU). ... Wilhelm Zaisser Wilhelm Zaisser (June 20, 1893-March 3, 1958) was head of East Germany’s Stasi from 1950 to 1953. ... This article or section needs to be wikified. ... Brigade and Division commander during the Spanish Civil War. ...

The operation was met by Communists with enthusiasm, but by Anarchists with scepticism, at best. At first, the Anarchists who controlled the borders with France were told to refuse Communist volunteers, and reluctantly allowed their passage after protests. A group of 500 volunteers (mainly French, with a few exiled Poles and Germans) arrived in Albacete on 14 October 1936. They were met by international volunteers who had already been fighting in Spain: Germans from the Thälmann Battalion, Italians from Centuria Gastone Sozzi and French from Commune de Paris Battalion. Among them was British poet John Cornford. Men were sorted according to their experience and origin, and dispatched to units. Anarchism is a generic term describing various political philosophies and social movements that advocate the elimination of hierarchy and imposed authority. ... Albacete its origins is derived from Arabic Al Basita (the plain, or the simple). ... is the 287th day of the year (288th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1936 (MCMXXXVI) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Thaelmann Battalion was part of the International Brigades in the Spanish Civil War. ... Rupert John Cornford (27 December 1915 – 28 December 1936) was an English poet and communist. ...

Albacete soon became the International Brigades headquarters and its main depot. It was run by a troika of Comintern heavyweights: André Marty was commander; Luigi Longo (Gallo) was Inspector-General; and Giuseppe Di Vittorio (Nicoletti) was chief political commissar. ^[2]. The Comintern (Russian: Коммунистический Интернационал, Kommunisticheskiy Internatsional – Communist International, also known as the Third International) was an international Communist organization founded in March 1919, in the midst of the war communism period (1918-1921), by Vladimir Lenin and the Russian Communist Party (Bolshevik), which intended to fight by all available means, including... André Marty was born in Perpignan, France, on 6 November 1886 and died on lung cancer in Toulouse, France, on 23 November 1956. ... Luigi Longo (1900 - 1980) was an Italian Communist political figure. ... Giuseppe Di Vittorio, also known under the pseudonym Nicoletti (August 12, 1892, Cerignola—November 3, 1957, Lecco), was an Italian syndicalist trade unionist and communist politician, one of the most influential leaders of the labor movement after World War I. Early activities He differed from most fellow activists through his...

The French Communist Party provided uniforms for the Brigades. Discipline was extreme. For several weeks, the Brigades were locked in their base while their strict military training was under way. This does not cite any references or sources. ...

First engagements: the Battle of Madrid

Main article: Siege of Madrid

The Battle of Madrid was a major success for the Republic. It staved off the prospect of a rapid defeat at the hands of Franco's forces. The role of the International Brigades in this victory was generally recognised and sometimes even exaggerated. For instance, the British Ambassador, Sir Henry Childon, declared that there were no Spaniards in the army which had defended Madrid; in fact, all but 3,000 of the 40,000 Republican troops in the city were Spanish. Even though the International Brigades did not win the battle by themselves, nor significantly change the situation, they certainly did provide an example by their determined fighting, and improved the morale of the population by demonstrating the concern of other nations in the fight. The Siege of Madrid was a three year siege of the Spanish capital Madrid, during the Spanish Civil War of 1936-1939. ... General Francisco Paulino Hermenegildo Teódulo Franco Bahamonde (4 December 1892 - November 20, [1] 1975), commonly abbreviated to Francisco Franco (pron. ...

Brigadists at Casa de Campo on the western outskirts of Madrid.

One of the strategic positions in Madrid was the Casa de Campo. There the Nationalist troops were Moroccans, commanded by General José Enrique Varela. They were excellent fighters in the open, but were ill-trained for urban warfare, a role in which the Republican militia had shown prowess in from the early days of the war. ^{[citation needed]} They were stopped by III and IV Brigades of the regular Republican Army. International Brigades at the Casa del Campo File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... International Brigades at the Casa del Campo File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... The Casa de Campo is a large urban park situated in Madrid (Spain), next to the Monte de El Pardo. ... José Enrique Varela Iglesias was a Spanish miliary commander, was born in San Fernando, Cadiz, Spain, April 17, 1891, and died in Tangier, Spanish Morocco, March 24, 1951. ...

On 9 November 1936, the XI International Brigade - comprising 1,900 men from the Edgar André Battalion, the Commune de Paris Battalion and the Dabrowski Battalion, together with a British machine-gun company - took up position at the Casa del Campo. In the evening, its commander, General Kléber, launched an assault on the Nationalist positions. This lasted for the whole night and part of the next morning. At the end of the fight, the Nationalist troops had been forced to retreat, abandoning all hopes of a direct assault on Madrid by Casa de Campo, while the XIth Brigade had lost a third of its personnel. This article is under construction. ... This was a battalion of the International Brigades in the Spanish Civil War. ... Manfred Stern (aka Emilio Kléber, Lazar Stern, Moishe Stern, Mark Zilbert) (1896-1954) was a member of Soviet Military Intelligence (GRU). ...

On 13 November, the 1550-man strong XII International Brigade, made up of the Thälmann Battalion, the Garibaldi Battalion and the André Marty Battalion, deployed. Commanded by General "Lukacs", they assaulted Nationalist positions on the high ground of Cerro de Los Angeles. As a result of language and communication problems, command issues, lack of rest, poor coordination with armoured units, and insufficient artillery support, the attack failed. Pavol Lukács and with the rank of General, he commanded initially the XII International Brigade and then the 45th Division. ... The Thaelmann Battalion was part of the International Brigades in the Spanish Civil War. ... Máté Zalka (April 23, 1896, Matolcs, Hungary - June 11, 1937, Huesca, Spain) was a Hungarian writer and revolutionary. ...

On November 19, Anarchist units of the Republican Army were forced to retreat, and Nationalist troops — Moroccans and Spanish Foreign Legionnaires, covered by the Nazi Condor Legion — captured a foothold in the University City. The 11th Brigade was sent to drive the Nationalists out of the University City. The battle was extremely bloody, a mix of artillery and aerial bombardments, with bayonet and grenade fights, room by room. Anarchist leader Buenaventura Durruti was shot there on the 19 November 1936, and died the next day. The battle in the University went on until three quarters of the University City was under Nationalist control. Both sides then started setting up trenches and fortifications. It was then clear that any assault from either side would be far too costly; the nationalist leaders had to renounce the idea of a direct assault on Madrid, and prepare for a siege of the capital. The Spanish Foreign Legion was founded by General Milian Astry in February 1920 as the Spanish equivelent to the French Foreign Legion. ... Hermann Göring delivering an honour (likely to be the Spanienkreuz, Spanish Cross) to a member of the Legion Condor (April 1939) The Condor Legion was a unit of Nazi Germanys air force which was sent as volunteers to support the right wing Nationalists (i. ... Buenaventura Durruti (July 14, 1896 in León—November 20, 1936, Madrid) was a central figure of Spanish anarchism during the period leading up to and during the Spanish Civil War. ... is the 323rd day of the year (324th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1936 (MCMXXXVI) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... A siege is a military blockade of a city or fortress with the intent of conquering by force or attrition, often accompanied by an assault. ...

On 13 December 1936, 18,000 nationalist troops attempted an attack to close the encirclement of Madrid at Guadarrama — an engagement known as the Battle of the Corunna Road. The Republicans sent in a Soviet armoured unit, under General Dmitry Pavlov, and both XI and XII International Brigades. Violent combat followed, and they stopped the Nationalist advance. December 13 is the 347th day of the year (348th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1936 (MCMXXXVI) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Guadarrama is a town in the Community of Madrid in Spain. ... The Battle of the Corunna Road was a battle of the Spanish Civil War from 13 December 1936 to 15 January 1937, north west of Madrid. ... Dmitry Grigorevich Pavlov (Russian: , 1897-July 22, 1941) was a Soviet general who commanded the key Soviet Western Front during the initial days of the German invasion of the Soviet Union, or Operation Barbarossa, in June 1941. ...

An attack was then launched by the Republic on the Cordoba front. The battle ended in a form of stalemate; a communique was issued, saying: "[t]oday, our advance continued without loss of land". Poets Ralph Winston Fox and John Cornford were killed. Eventually, the Nationalists advanced, taking the hydro electric station at El Campo. André Marty accused the commander of the Marseillaise Battalion, Gaston Delasalle, of espionage and treason and had him executed. (It is doubtful that Delasalle would have been a spy for Francisco Franco; he was denounced by his own second-in-command, André Heussler, who was executed for treason during World War II, by the French Resistance.) Location Coordinates : , , Time Zone : CET (GMT +1) - summer: CEST (GMT +2) General information Native name Córdoba (Spanish) Spanish name Córdoba Founded 8th century BC Postal code 140xx Website http://www. ... Ralph Winston Fox. ... Rupert John Cornford (27 December 1915 – 28 December 1936) was an English poet and communist. ... Hydroelectric dam diagram The waters of Llyn Stwlan, the upper reservoir of the Ffestiniog Pumped-Storage Scheme in north Wales, can just be glimpsed on the right. ... El Campo is a city located in Wharton County, Texas, United States. ... André Marty was born in Perpignan, France, on 6 November 1886 and died on lung cancer in Toulouse, France, on 23 November 1956. ...

Further Nationalist attempts after Christmas to encircle Madrid met with failure, but not without extremely violent combat. On 6 January 1937, the Thälmann Battalion arrived at Las Rozas, and held its positions until it was destroyed as a fighting force. On January 9, only 10 km had been lost to the Nationalists, when the XIII International Brigade and XIV International Brigade and the 1st British Company, arrived in Madrid. Violent Republican assaults were launched in attempt to retake the land, with little success. On January 15, trenches and fortifications were built by both sides, resulting in a stalemate. is the 6th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1937 (MCMXXXVII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Thaelmann Battalion was part of the International Brigades in the Spanish Civil War. ... Las Rozas de Madrid is a municipality in Madrid Province, Spain. ... This article is about the 13th International Brigade - often known as the XIII Dabrowski Brigade - which fought for the Spanish Second Republic in the Spanish Civil War. ... The XIV International Brigade fought for the Spanish Second Republic in the Spanish Civil War. ...

The Nationalists did not take Madrid until the very end of the war, in March 1939. There were also some pockets of resistants during the consecutive months.

The Battle of Jarama

Blason of the International Brigades. The inscription says International Freedom Volunteers, 1936-1939.

Main article: Battle of Jarama

On 6 February 1937, following the fall of Málaga, the nationalists launched an attack on the Madrid-Andalusia road, south of Madrid. The Nationalists quickly advanced on the little town Ciempozuelos, held by XV International Brigade, which was composed by the British Battalion (British Commonwealth and Irish), the Dimitrov Battalion (miscellaneous Balkan nationalities), the 6 Février Battalion (Belgians and French), the Canadian Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion and the Abraham Lincoln Battalion (Americans, including African-American). An independent 80-men-strong Irish unit, known as the Connolly Column, made up of people from both sides of the Irish border also fought. (They included an ex-Catholic Christian Brother, and an ordained Church of Ireland (Anglican Protestant) Clergyman, fighting and dying on the same side.^{[citation needed]}) Commemorative medal for the International Brigades This work is copyrighted. ... Commemorative medal for the International Brigades This work is copyrighted. ... Combatants Second Spanish Republic Nationalist Spain Commanders José Miaja, Sebastián Pozas Perea, Enrique Líster, Valentín González, Robert Merriman Enrique Varela, García Escámez, Carlos Asensio, Fernándo Barrón Ortiz Strength ~30,000 infantry, (June 15)[1] 19,000–40,000 infantry, ~40 guns[2... is the 37th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1937 (MCMXXXVII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Location of Málaga Municipality Málaga Government  - Mayor Francisco de la Torre Prados Area  - City 385. ... Motto: (Spanish for From Madrid to Heaven) Location Coordinates: , Country Spain Autonomous Community Comunidad Autónoma de Madrid Province Madrid Administrative Divisions 21 Neighborhoods 127 Founded 9th century Government  - Mayor Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón Jimémez (PP) Area  - Land 607 km² (234. ... Motto: Andalucía por sí, para España y la humanidad (Andalusia by herself, for Spain, and for humankind) Capital Seville Official language(s) Spanish Area  â€“ Total  â€“ % of Spain Ranked 2nd  87,268 km²  17. ... Ciempozuelos is a town in Spain. ... Brigade name/s: XVth Brigade Brigade songs: Jarama Valley, Viva la Quinta Brigada Battles: Jarama, Brunete, Boadilla, Belchite, Fuentes de Ebro, Teruel, El Ebro The XV International Brigade fought for the Spanish Second Republic in the Spanish Civil War. ... The British Battalion (1936-1938) was the 16th battalion of the International Brigades during the Spanish Civil War. ... The Commonwealth of Nations as of 2006 Headquarters Marlborough House, London, UK Official languages English Membership 53 sovereign states Leaders  -  Queen Elizabeth II  -  Secretary-General Don McKinnon (since 1 April 2000) Establishment  -  Balfour Declaration 18 November 1926   -  Statute of Westminster 11 December 1931   -  London Declaration 28 April 1949  Area  -  Total... The Dimitrov Battalion was part of the International Brigades during the Spanish Civil War. ... ... The Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion or Mac-Paps were a battalion of Canadians who fought as part of the Fifteenth International Regiment for the Republican side in the Spanish Civil War. ... For other uses, see Abraham Lincoln (disambiguation). ... Languages Predominantly American English Religions Protestantism (chiefly Baptist and Methodist); Roman Catholicism; Islam Related ethnic groups Sub-Saharan Africans and other African groups, some with Native American groups. ... The Connolly Column refers to the Irish volunteers who fought for the Spanish Republic in the International Brigades in the Spanish Civil War. ... There are at least two religious orders that go by the informal name Christian Brothers. ... The Church of Ireland (Irish: ) is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion, operating seamlessly across the border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. ... The term Anglican describes those people and churches following the religious traditions of the Church of England, especially following the Reformation. ...

On 11 February 1937, a Nationalist brigade launched a surprise attack on the André Marty Battalion (XIV International Brigade), stabbing its sentries and crossing the Jarama. The Garibaldi Battalion stopped the advance with heavy fire. At another point, the same tactic allowed the Nationalists to move their troops across the river. is the 42nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1937 (MCMXXXVII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The XIV International Brigade fought for the Spanish Second Republic in the Spanish Civil War. ... Sentry may refer to: A sentry is a guard at a gate or other point of passage. ... Jarama River in Titulcia Jarama is a river in central Spain. ...

On 12 February, the British Battalion, XV International Brigade took the brunt of the attack, remaining under heavy fire for seven hours. The position became known as "Suicide Hill". At the end of the day, only 225 of the 600 members of the British battalion remained. One company was captured by ruse, when Nationalists advanced among their ranks singing The Internationale. February 12 is the 43rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... The British Battalion (1936-1938) was the 16th battalion of the International Brigades during the Spanish Civil War. ... Brigade name/s: XVth Brigade Brigade songs: Jarama Valley, Viva la Quinta Brigada Battles: Jarama, Brunete, Boadilla, Belchite, Fuentes de Ebro, Teruel, El Ebro The XV International Brigade fought for the Spanish Second Republic in the Spanish Civil War. ... LInternationale in the original French. ...

On 17 February, the Republican Army counter-attacked. On February 23 and 27, the International Brigades were engaged, but with little success. The Lincoln Battalion was put under great pressure, with no artillery support. It suffered 120 killed and 175 wounded. Amongst the dead was the Irish poet Charles Donnelly.[1] Charles Donnelly (1914 - 1937) was an Irish poet. ...

With heavy casualties of both sides, although "both claimed victory ... both suffered defeats". ^[3]. It resulted in a stalemate, with both sides digging in, creating elaborate trench systems.

On the 22 February 1937 the League of Nations Non-Intervention Committee ban on foreign volunteers went into effect. is the 53rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1937 (MCMXXXVII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The League of Nations was an international organization founded as a result of the Paris Peace Conference in 1919-1920. ... The purpose of Non-Intervention Committee (1936-1939) was to prevent personnel and matériel reaching the warring parties of the Spanish Civil War. ...

The Battle of Guadalajara

Republican poster featuring the International Brigades. The text reads We the Internationals, united with the Spanish people, fight the invader.

Main article: Battle of Guadalajara

After the failed assault on the Jarama, the Nationalists attempted another assault on Madrid, from the North-East this time. The objective was the town of Guadalajara, 50 km from Madrid. The whole Italian expeditionary corps — 35,000 men, with 80 battle tanks and 200 field artillery — was deployed, as Mussolini wanted the victory to be credited to Italy. On 9 March 1937, the Italians made a breach in the Republican lines, but did not properly exploit the advance. However, the rest of the Nationalist army was advancing, and the situation appeared critical for the Republicans. A formation drawn from the best available units of the Republican army, including the XI and XII International Brigades, was quickly assembled. Spanish civil war republican propaganda poster featuring the International Brigades. ... Spanish civil war republican propaganda poster featuring the International Brigades. ... The Guadalajara Offensive (8 March – 23 March 1937) was an engagement in the Spanish Civil War. ... Location Coordinates: Country Spain Autonomous Community Castile-La Mancha Province Guadalajara Tows 5 (Guadalajara, Iriépal, Taracena, Usanos & Valdenoches) Founded 8th century, probably, by moors Government  - Mayor Jesús Alique (PSOE) Area  - Land 236 km² (91. ... Benito Mussolini created a fascist state through the use of propaganda, total control of the media and disassembly of the working democratic government. ... is the 68th day of the year (69th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1937 (MCMXXXVII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is under construction. ... Pavol Lukács and with the rank of General, he commanded initially the XII International Brigade and then the 45th Division. ...

At dawn on 10 March, the Nationalists closed in, and by noon, the Garibaldi Battalion counterattacked. Some confusion arose from the fact that the sides were not aware of each other's movements, and that both sides spoke Italian; this resulted in scouts from both sides exchanging information without realising they were enemies.^{[citation needed]} The Republican lines advanced and made contact with XI International Brigade. Fascist tanks were shot at and infantry patrols came into action. There was reportedly an incident in which a fascist officer asked why Italian soldiers were shooting at his party, and they responded Noi siamo Italiani di Garibaldi (literally: "we are Garibaldi Italian"), at which point the Fascists surrendered.^{[citation needed]} The common language was used to advantage by the Republicans, who used loudspeakers and dropped leaflets from planes, to broadcast propaganda messages, including a promise to pay Fascist deserters.^{[citation needed]} March 10 is the 69th day of the year (70th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

On March 11, the Fascists broke the front of the Republican army. The Thälmann Battalion suffered heavy losses, but succeeded in holding the Trijueque-Torija road. The Garibaldi also held its positions. On March 12, Republican planes and tanks attacked. The Thälmann Battalion attacked Trijuete in a bayonet charge and re-took the town, capturing numerous prisoners. The Thaelmann Battalion was part of the International Brigades in the Spanish Civil War. ... The Thaelmann Battalion was part of the International Brigades in the Spanish Civil War. ...

The International Brigades also saw combat in the Battle of Teruel in January 1938. The 35th International Division suffered heavily in this battle from aerial bombardment as well as shortages of food, winter clothing and ammunition. The XIV International Brigade fought in the Battle of Ebro in July 1938, the last Republican offensive of the war. A Republican soldier seeks cover on the Plaza de Toros in Teruel, north-east of Madrid The battle of Teruel was fought in and around the city of Teruel in the Spanish Civil War in December 1937-February 1938. ... The XIV International Brigade fought for the Spanish Second Republic in the Spanish Civil War. ... Combatants Second Spanish Republic Nationalist Spain Commanders Juan Modesto Enrique Lister Queipo de Llano Francisco Franco Strength 100,000 80,000 Casualties 30,000 dead 20,000 wounded 19,563 captured 200 aircraft 6,500 dead 30,000 wounded 5,000 captured The Battle of the Ebro (catalan: Batalla de...

The Disbandment of the International Brigades

American Brigadists in training

The International Brigades were disbanded by the Republican government of Juan Negrin, who announced the decision in the League of Nations on September 21, 1938 in an effort to get the Nationalist's foreign backers to withdraw their troops and to persuade the western democracies such as France and Britain to end their arms embargo on the Republic. By this time there were about 10,000 foreign volunteers still serving in Spain. Just over half of these came from fascist countries such as Germany, Italy or others such as Hungary which had authoritarian right wing governments. These men could not safely return home and were instead given honorary Spanish citizenship and were integrated in to Spanish units of the Popular Army. The remainder were repatriated to their own countries. Training of American Brigadists during the Spanish Civil War File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Training of American Brigadists during the Spanish Civil War File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Juan Negrín Lopez (Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, February 3, 1887 - Paris, November 12, 1956) was a Spanish republican political figure during the Spanish Civil War. ... The League of Nations was an international organization founded as a result of the Paris Peace Conference in 1919-1920. ... is the 264th day of the year (265th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1938 (MCMXXXVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... For delayed access after publication, see Embargo (academic publishing). ...

Composition of International Brigade units

For a military overview, see International Brigades order of battle

Republican poster featuring the International Brigades. The text reads All the peoples of the world are in the International Brigades supporting the Spanish people. The three figures are those of a "yellow", "black" and "white" soldier, as to represent the whole of humanity.

The first brigades were composed mostly of French, Belgian, Italian, and German volunteers, backed by a sizeable contingent of Polish miners from Northern France and Belgium. The XIth, XIIth and XIIIth were the first brigades formed. Later, the XIVth and XVth Brigades were raised, mixing experienced soldiers with new volunteers. Smaller Brigades - the 86th, 129th and 150th - were formed in late 1937 and 1938, mostly for temporary tactical reasons. The International Brigades Star The International Brigades (IB) were volunteer military units who fought on the side of the Second Spanish Republic during the Spanish Civil War. ... Propaganda poster about the International Brigades File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Propaganda poster about the International Brigades File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... This article is under construction. ... Pavol Lukács and with the rank of General, he commanded initially the XII International Brigade and then the 45th Division. ... This article is about the 13th International Brigade - often known as the XIII Dabrowski Brigade - which fought for the Spanish Second Republic in the Spanish Civil War. ... The XIV International Brigade fought for the Spanish Second Republic in the Spanish Civil War. ... Brigade name/s: XVth Brigade Brigade songs: Jarama Valley, Viva la Quinta Brigada Battles: Jarama, Brunete, Boadilla, Belchite, Fuentes de Ebro, Teruel, El Ebro The XV International Brigade fought for the Spanish Second Republic in the Spanish Civil War. ... Flag of the unit with the famous motto For our freedom and yours and declaring allegiance to Soviet Republic of Poland, showing communist allegiance of the volunteers Soldiers of the Brigade. ...

About 32,000 ^[1] people volunteered to defend the Spanish Republic. Many were veterans of the World War I. Their early engagements in 1936 during the Siege of Madrid amply demonstrated their military and propaganda value. “The Great War ” redirects here. ... The Siege of Madrid was a three year siege of the Spanish capital Madrid, during the Spanish Civil War of 1936-1939. ...

The international volunteers were mainly Communists, or under Communist authority, and a high proportion were Jewish. In total just under 1000 Irish socialists fought in Spain ,probably not Jewish nor Communist and from a Republican authority. They are still remembered in [[2]]song. Some were involved in the fighting in Barcelona against Republican opponents of the Communists: the POUM (Partido Obrero de Unificación Marxista, an anti-Stalinist Marxist party) and anarchists. However, overseas volunteers from anarchist, socialist, liberal and other political positions also served with the brigades. Many Jewish people were active in Socialist and Communist organisations in the period between the two World Wars [1]. They were highly represented in the International Brigades and numbered about fifty per cent among the Americans of the International Brigades[2]. Other estimates put the figure at ten per cent... Location Coordinates : Time Zone : CET (GMT +1) - summer: CEST (GMT +2) General information Native name Barcelona (Catalan) Spanish name Barcelona Nickname Ciutat Comtal (City of Counts) Postal code 08001–08080 Area code 34 (Spain) + 93 (Barcelona) Website http://www. ... A POUM poster urges Workers: to victory! A POUM poster appeals to peasants: Peasants: the land is yours The Workers Party of Marxist Unification (POUM, Spanish: Partido Obrero de Unificación Marxista; Catalan: Partit Obrer dUnificació Marxista) was a Spanish communist political party formed during the Second Republic, and... Stalinism is a brand of political theory, and the political and economic system implemented by Joseph Stalin in the Soviet Union. ...

To simplify communication, the battalions usually concentrated people of the same nationality or language group. The battalions were often (formally, at least) named after inspirational people or events. From Spring 1937 onwards, many battalions contained one Spanish volunteer company (about 150 men).

Later in the war, military discipline tightened and learning Spanish became mandatory. By decree of 23 September 1937, the International Brigades formally became units of the Spanish Foreign Legion^[4]. This made them subject to the Spanish Code of Military Justice. The same decree also specified that non-Spanish officers in the Brigades should not exceed Spanish ones by more than 50 per cent^[5] The Spanish Foreign Legion was founded by General Milian Astry in February 1920 as the Spanish equivelent to the French Foreign Legion. ...

Data

Non-Spanish battalions

For more information on composition and mustering, see International Brigades order of battle

• Abraham Lincoln Battalion: from the United States, Canada and Irish Free State, with some British and Chilean who lived in New York and where member of the Chilean worker club of New York.
  • Connolly Column: This mostly Irish republican group fought as a section of the Lincoln Battalion
• Mickiewicz Battalion: predominantly Polish.
• André Marty Battalion: predominantly French and Belgian, named after André Marty.
• British Battalion: Mainly British but with many from the Irish Free State, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and other Commonwealth countries.
• Checo-Balcánico Battalion: Czechoslovakian and Balkan.
• Commune de Paris Battalion: predominantly French.
• Deba Blagoiev Battalion: predominantly Bulgarian, later merged into the Djakovic Battalion.
• Dimitrov Battalion: Greek, Yugoslavian, Bulgarian, Czechoslovakian, Hungarian and Romanian. Named after Georgi Dimitrov.
• Djure Djakovic Battalion: Yugoslav, Bulgarian, anarchist, named after the former Yugoslav communist party president Đuro Đaković.
• Dabrowski Battalion: mostly Polish and Hungarian. Also Czechoslovakian, Ukrainian, Bulgarian and Palestinian Jews. See also Dąbrowszczacy.
• Edgar André Battalion: mostly German. Also Austrian, Yugoslavian, Bulgarian, Albanian, Romanian, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian and Dutch.
• Español Battalion: Mexican, Cuban, Puerto Rican, Chilean, Argentinian and Bolivian.
• Figlio Battalion: mostly Italian; later merged with the Garibaldi Battalion.
• Garibaldi Battalion: Raised as the Italoespañol Battalion and renamed. Mostly Italian and Spanish.
• George Washington Battalion: the second US battalion. Later merged with the Lincoln Battalion, to form the Lincoln-Washington Battalion.
• Hans Beimler Battalion: mostly German; later merged with the Thälmann Battalion.
• Henri Barbusse Battalion: predominantly French.
• Henri Vuilleman Battalion: predominantly French.
• Louise Michel Battalions: French-speaking, later merged with the Henri Vuillemin Battalion.
• Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion: the Mac-Paps, predominantly Canadian.
• Marsellaise Battalion: predominantly French.
  • Incorporated one separate British company.
• Palafox Battalion: Yugoslavian, Polish, Czechoslovakian, Hungarian, Jewish and French.
  • Naftali Botwin Company: a Jewish unit formed within the Palafox Battalion in December 1937.
• Pierre Brachet Battalion: mostly French.
• Rakosi Battalion: mainly Hungarian, also Czechoslovakians, Ukrainians, Poles, Chinese, Mongolians and Palestinian Jews.
• Nine Nations Battalion (also known as the Sans nons and Neuf Nationalités: French, Belgian, Italian, German, Austrian, Dutch, Danish, Swiss and Polish.
• Six Février Battalion ("Sixth of February"): French, Belgian, Moroccan, Algerian, Libyan, Syrian, Iranian, Iraqi, Chinese, Japanese, Indian and Palestinian Jewish.
• Thälmann Battalion: predominantly German, named after German communist leader Ernst Thälmann.
  • Tom Mann Centuria: A small, mostly British, group who operated as a section of the Thälmann Battalion.
• Thomas Masaryk Battalion: mostly Czechoslovakian.
• Tschapaiew Battalion: Ukrainian, Polish, Czechoslovakian, Bulgarian, Yugoslavian, Turkish, Italian, German, Austrian, Finnish, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Belgian, French, Greek, Albanian, Dutch, Swiss and Baltic.
• Vaillant-Couturier Battalion: French, Belgian, Czechoslovakian, Bulgarian, Swedish, Norwegian and Danish.
• Veinte Battalion: American, British, Italian, Yugoslavian and Bulgarian.
• Zwölfte Februar Battalion: mostly Austrian.

The International Brigades Star The International Brigades (IB) were volunteer military units who fought on the side of the Second Spanish Republic during the Spanish Civil War. ... The Abraham Lincoln Brigade was an organization of United States volunteers supporting or fighting for the anti-fascist Spanish Republican forces in the Spanish Civil War as part of the International Brigade. ... Territory of the Irish Free State Capital Dublin Language(s) Irish, English Government Constitutional monarchy Monarch  - 1922–1936 George V  - 1936–1936 George VI President of the Executive Council  - 1922–1932 W.T. Cosgrave  - 1932–1937 Eamon de Valera Legislature Oireachtas  - Upper house Seanad Éireann  - Lower house Dáil Éireann... “NY” redirects here. ... The Connolly Column refers to the Irish volunteers who fought for the Spanish Republic in the International Brigades in the Spanish Civil War. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... A banner of the Abraham Lincoln Battalion. ... Bust of Adam Mickiewicz This was a volunteer battalion of the International Brigades during the Spanish Civil War. ... André Marty was born in Perpignan, France, on 6 November 1886 and died on lung cancer in Toulouse, France, on 23 November 1956. ... The British Battalion (1936-1938) was the 16th battalion of the International Brigades during the Spanish Civil War. ... Territory of the Irish Free State Capital Dublin Language(s) Irish, English Government Constitutional monarchy Monarch  - 1922–1936 George V  - 1936–1936 George VI President of the Executive Council  - 1922–1932 W.T. Cosgrave  - 1932–1937 Eamon de Valera Legislature Oireachtas  - Upper house Seanad Éireann  - Lower house Dáil Éireann... The Commonwealth of Nations as of 2006 Headquarters Marlborough House, London, UK Official languages English Membership 53 sovereign states Leaders  -  Queen Elizabeth II  -  Secretary-General Don McKinnon (since 1 April 2000) Establishment  -  Balfour Declaration 18 November 1926   -  Statute of Westminster 11 December 1931   -  London Declaration 28 April 1949  Area  -  Total... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... ... The Dimitrov Battalion was part of the International Brigades during the Spanish Civil War. ... Yugoslavs (Bosnian: Jugosloveni; Macedonian, Serbian Cyrillic: Југословени; Latinic: Jugosloveni; Croatian: Jugoslaveni, Slovenian: Jugoslovani) is an ethnic designation used by some people in former Yugoslavia, which continues to be used in some of its successor countries. ... Georgi Dimitrov Georgi Mikhailov Dimitrov (Георги Михайлов Димитров, also known as Георгий Михайлович Димитров- Georgiy Mikhailovich Dimitrov) (June 18, 1882, Kovachevtsi, Pernik Province - July 2, 1949, Moscow) was a Bulgarian Communist leader. ... This was a battalion of the International Brigades in the Spanish Civil War. ... Flag The approximate borders of the British Mandate circa 1922. ... Flag of the unit with the famous motto For our freedom and yours and declaring allegiance to Soviet Republic of Poland, showing communist allegiance of the volunteers Soldiers of the Brigade. ... For other uses, see Argentina (disambiguation). ... The Thaelmann Battalion was part of the International Brigades in the Spanish Civil War. ... The Vuilleman Battalion (full name, the Henri Vuilleman Battalion) was a unit of the International Brigades during the Spanish Civil War. ... Two battalions of French-speaking volunteers in the International Brigades of the Spanish Civil War were named after Louise Michel, a heroine of the 1871 Paris Commune. ... The Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion or Mac-Paps were a battalion of Canadians who fought as part of the Fifteenth International Regiment for the Republican side in the Spanish Civil War. ... This article is under construction. ... This article is under construction. ... The word Jew ( Hebrew: יהודי) is used in a wide number of ways, but generally refers to a follower of the Jewish faith, a child of a Jewish mother, or someone of Jewish descent with a connection to Jewish culture or ethnicity and often a combination... This article is under construction. ... Year 1937 (MCMXXXVII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Rakosi Battalion was a volunteer unit, formed predominantly of Hungarians, who fought in the XIII International Brigade during the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939). ... The Thaelmann Battalion was part of the International Brigades in the Spanish Civil War. ... Ernst Thälmann Ernst Thälmann statue in Weimar. ... The Thaelmann Battalion was part of the International Brigades in the Spanish Civil War. ... A volunteer battalion of the International Brigades during the Spanish Civil War. ...

Status of the Brigades after the war

Czechoslovak poster celebrating the 25th anniversary of establishing the International Brigades.

The monument honouring the French Brigadists in Père Lachaise cemetery.

Since the Civil War was eventually won by the Nationalists, the Brigadiers were initially on the "wrong side" of history, especially since most of their home countries had a right-wing government (in France, for instance, the Popular Front was not in power anymore). Image File history File links Czechoslovak poster celebrating the 25th anniversary of establishing the International Brigades; 1961 This is a copyrighted poster. ... Image File history File links Czechoslovak poster celebrating the 25th anniversary of establishing the International Brigades; 1961 This is a copyrighted poster. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2560x1920, 1110 KB) Photograph by Rama File links The following pages link to this file: International Brigades ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2560x1920, 1110 KB) Photograph by Rama File links The following pages link to this file: International Brigades ... Looking down the hill at the Père-Lachaise cemetery The cimetière du Père-Lachaise (pronounced pierre la-sh-ez) is the largest cemetery in the city of Paris (there are larger cemeteries in Paris suburbs). ... The Popular Front was an alliance of left-wing political parties (the Communists, the Socialists and the Radicals), which was in government in France from 1936 to 1938. ...

However, since most of these countries found themselves at war with the very powers which had been fought in Spain, the Brigadists gained some prestige as the first guard of the democracies, having fought a prophetical combat. Retrospectively, it was clear that the war in Spain was as much a Spanish civil war as a precursor of the Second World War. A civil war is a war in which parties within the same culture, society or nationality fight against each other for the control of political power. ... Mushroom cloud from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rising 18 km into the air. ...

Some glory was therefore accredited to the volunteers (a great deal of the survivors having also fought gallantly during World War II), but this soon faded in the fear that it would promote (by association) communism. Communism is an ideology that seeks to establish a classless, stateless social organization based on common ownership of the means of production. ...

In addition, the ambiguous stance regarding Germany of the Communist Parties in the West, during the period between the Hitler-Stalin pact and the German invasion of the Soviet Union, contributed to widespread uneasiness when evaluating the Brigadists' role in the politics of the Nazi era.

Since the fall of the Soviet bloc, the International Brigades have been generally regarded as anti-Fascist heroes, and the legitimacy of their fight has, for the most part, washed away the stain of summary executions and Stalinist manipulation, despite being non-governmental combatants ^{[citation needed]}.

An exception is among radical groups to the Left of the Communist Parties, for example anarchists, among whom the Brigades, or at least their leadership, are criticised for their alleged role in suppressing the Spanish Revolution. An example of a modern work which promotes this view is Ken Loach's film Land and Freedom. A well-known contemporary account of the Spanish Civil War which takes this view is George Orwell's book Homage to Catalonia. Anarchists can refer to several things, among which: The movie Anarchists Supporters of the principles of anarchism The Anarchists (Les Anarchistes), a famous song from Léo Ferré A List of anarchists This is a disambiguation page—a list of articles associated with the same title. ... In Spanish history, there have been several revolutions. ... Ken Loach Kenneth Loach (born June 17, 1936), known as Ken Loach, is an English television and film director, known for his naturalistic style and socialist themes. ... Movie poster from Ken Loachs Land and Freedom Land and Freedom is a 1995 film directed by Ken Loach and written by Jim Allen. ... Eric Arthur Blair (25 June 1903[1][2] – 21 January 1950), better known by the pen name George Orwell, was an English author and journalist. ... Homage to Catalonia book cover Homage to Catalonia is George Orwells personal account of the Spanish Civil War, written in the first person. ...

Swiss Brigadists

An estimated 766 ^{[citation needed]} Swiss went to fight for the Republic, while only 40 went on the other side. It is interesting to note that the pro-republicans were later prosecuted for breaking the Swiss neutrality laws, which prohibit Swiss nationals from fighting for foreign countries, while the pro-nationalists were never prosecuted. This might be explained on one hand by the anti-communism of the Swiss government at the time, but also because the Swiss living in Spain at the time (nearly 4000) were very much afraid of what was perceived as a communist movement. The Republican fighters were rehabilitated in the 1990s.

Interestingly, it has been noted that the punishments of those prosecuted were very variable (ranging from 15 days to 4 months in prison) but that the French-speaking tribunals had been as a rule much more lenient than the German-speaking ones. This is usually attributed to the more openly pro-fascist sentiment of the elite in those parts at the time.

Recognition of former Brigadists

Memorial to the German Brigadists in East Berlin.

On 26 January 1996 the Spanish government gave Spanish citizenship to the Brigadists. At the time, roughly 600 remained. By the end of 1938, Prime Minister Juan Negrin had promised Spanish citizenship to the Brigadists, a promise which had not been kept since the Republic had lost the war. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1600x1200, 337 KB) Summary Photo by User:Adam Carr, May 2006 Memorial to the Germans in the International Brigades during the Spanish Civil War. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1600x1200, 337 KB) Summary Photo by User:Adam Carr, May 2006 Memorial to the Germans in the International Brigades during the Spanish Civil War. ... East Berlin was the name given to the eastern part of Berlin between 1949 and 1990. ...