The Dimitrov Battalion
was part of the military forces of the International
Brigade I that fought during the Spanish
Civil War. Named
after Georgi Dimitrov of the Comintern,
the battalion comprised of Greeks and people from the Balkans. The
battalion took part in several battles including the offensive at
Jarama in February 1937. One of its commanders was Josip
Tito, who later
became ruler of Yugoslavia.
(1)
Fred Copeman, Reason in Revolt (1948)
The Dimitrov Battalion (composed of Czech,
Bulgarian, Hungarian, Rumanian and Yugo-Slavian troops) took over
the sector immediately to our right. Their commander was a political
refugee who had spent some time in Moscow, and fought in Spain under
the name of Shapayev. Today he is known as Marshall Tito. He gave
me the impression of being a very sincere and capable commander, though
he had the old Communist attitude of ruthlessness to trivial offences.
I can imagine him today as head of the State, quite capable of using
his power and not losing too much sleep about
individual rights. His battalion was made up of Slav refugees from
countries which, in the main, were already under Fascist control.
Certainly a fine body of men. On military matters Shapayev was full
of enthusiasm. Tito is, if nothing else, a very stubborn man, and
will not last long in complete agreement with anyone. We had respect
for one another and a leaning to practice, not words. His latest bout
with the Cominform is the natural outcome of
a Slav's spirit of independence.
(2)
After the war Ernest
Hemingway wrote about the role of
the International
Brigades.
The dead sleep cold in Spain tonight. Snow blows through the olive
groves, sifting against the tree roots. Snow drifts over the mounds
with small headboards. For our dead are a part of the earth of Spain
now and the earth of Spain can never die. Each winter it will seem
to die and each spring it will come alive again. Our dead will live
with it forever.
Over 40,000 volunteers
from 52 countries flocked to Spain between 1936 and 1939 to take part
in the historic struggle between democracy and fascism known as the
Spanish Civil War.
Five brigades of international
volunteers fought on behalf of the democratically elected Republican
(or Loyalist) government. Most of the North American volunteers served
in the unit known as the 15th brigade, which included the Abraham
Lincoln battalion, the George Washington battalion and the (largely
Canadian) Mackenzie-Papineau battalion. All told, about 2,800 Americans,
1,250 Canadians and 800 Cubans served in the International Brigades.
Over 80 of the U.S. volunteers were African-American. In fact, the
Lincoln Battalion was headed by Oliver Law, an African-American from
Chicago, until he died in battle.
Available from Amazon Books
(order below)
