On the outbreak
of the Spanish
Civil War President Franklin
D. Roosevelt declared
the United States government would remain neutral
in the conflict. The United States government also took measures to
restrict its citizens from selling arms to the Nationalists and Republicans.
However some Americans
did take part in the fighting. The Abraham
Lincoln Battalion was established by those wanting to fight for
the Republic during the war.
The first volunteers sailed from New York
City on 25th December, 1936 and joined the other International
Brigades at Albacete.
An estimated 3,000 men
fought in the battalion. Of these, over 1,000 were industrial workers
(miners, steel workers, longshoremen). Another 500 were students or
teachers. Around 30 per cent were Jewish and 70 per cent were between
21 and 28 years of age. The majority were members of the American
Communist Party whereas
others came from the Socialist
Party of America and
Socialist
Labor Party.
The Abraham
Lincoln Battalion suffered heavy casualties at Jarama.
When Robert Merriman was wounded in the
left shoulder, he was replaced by Oliver Law
as battalion commander. It was the first time in American history
that an integrated military force was led by an African-American officer.
In July
1937 the Abraham Lincoln Battalion fought
alongside the George Washington Battalion
at Brunete. Oliver
Law was
one of those killed and Steve
Nelson now
took over as commander of the battalion.
Casualties
were so high at Brunete that on 14th July the two units were merged.
By the end of the Spanish
Civil War there
were only 150 American soldiers left in the Lincoln-Washington
Battalion. Over the course of the war over one-third of
the volunteers from the United States had been
killed.
(1)
Bill
Bailey wrote to his mother explaining
why he was fighting in the Spanish
Civil War (1937)
You
see Mom, there are things that one must do in this life that are a
little more than just living. In Spain there are thousands of mothers
like yourself who never had a fair shake in life. They got together
and elected a government that really gave meaning to their life. But
a bunch of bullies decided to crush this wonderful thing. That's why
I went to Spain, Mom, to help these poor people win this battle, then
one day it would be easier for you and the mothers of the future.
Don't let anyone mislead you by telling you that all this had something
to do with Communism. The Hitlers and Mussolinis of this world are
killing Spanish people who don't know the difference between Communism
and rheumatism. And it's not to set up some Communist government either.
The only thing the Communists did here was show the people how to
fight and try to win what is rightfully theirs.
(2)
Manchester
Guardian (5th April 1937)
Twenty-nine
Americans who are alleged to have tried to cross the French frontier
into Spain to enlist with the Spanish Government forces were detained
last night at Muret between Toulouse and the Spanish frontier. The
Americans had landed at Havre maintaining, it is stated, that they
were genuine tourists. They have been brought to Toulouse for questioning.
(3)
Paul
White deserted from the Abraham Lincoln
Brigade in March 1938. He
drove to the French border. However, on hearing that his wife had
given birth to a son, he began to feel remorse for what he had done.
White wanted his son to be proud of his father and he returned to
the front where he made a full confession of his actions. White was
court-martialled and became the only American to be executed for desertion
in the war.
After Belchite I knew I was afraid to go into action again.
I tried all this time to overcome my feeling of fear. I felt we were
doomed and fighting futilely. I dropped out of line and made up my
mind to desert and try and reach France. As I ran towards the Ebro
and met more deserters and routed troops, my fear grew. If I succeeded
in getting to France, I still would have to face everyone at home
but I had lost all control.
I kept going and debating
whether or not to turn back. I spoke to the mayor at the border town
in which I was arrested and asked where the command post was located.
He told me and I decided to eat and make a final decision. I was arrested
before I had done this. Once I was in custody I decided that I had
been saved from wrecking my life completely.
I realize that "safety"
of the kind I was seeking would never compensate me for the loss of
everything and everyone I
value. I ask for one chance and that is to serve in the lines and
wipe out this stain on my military and Party record.
I am 29 years old and
am certain that I can serve in the ranks for many years as a class
conscious worker. I have had plenty of time to think before making
this statement and sincerely believe I will be stronger in my work
and devotion if given the opportunity to redeem myself. I regard my
position now as the most serious crisis in my life and am ready to
meet it.
(4)
The Manchester Guardian (11th
May 1938)
The news from Washington that Senator Nye's amendment to
the Neutrality Act to enable arms to be sold to Spain is
unlikely to be passed has caused disappointment and anxiety in Spanish
Government quarters here, as well as among all those who considered
that the removal of the arms embargo would enormously improve the
position of the Spanish Government.
It is held that the great
majority of American opinion is as revolted as ever by the 'non-intervention'
policy and would
heartily welcome the renewal of American arms shipments to the Government
side, but it is strongly suspected here that
the British Government, fearing that this would 'perpetuate the Spanish
war' and would also oblige Great Britain and France to choose between
following the United States (and at least not hindering them) and
continuing 'non-intervention', has advised Washington against any
change in the Neutrality Act.
(5)
Edwin
Rolfe,
New
Masses (13th September, 1938)
The
war has ripped all illusions from even the youngest of the volunteers,
leaving only the reality. That reality is harder than anyone who has
never been under machine-gun fire and bombs and artillery fire can
ever know. Yet the men of the Lincoln brigade, knowing it well, chose
and continue to choose to fight for Spain's free existence. To be
true to themselves and their innermost convictions.
(6)
Bill
Bailey was a member of the International
Brigades parade in Barcelona
on 15th November 1938.
Everyone who was able to walk was
in the parade and the street was lined with people, throwing flowers,
running out to hug and kiss us, tears in their eyes. It was sad to
leave all these wonderful Spaniards at Franco's mercy. The last words
spoken to us were that we should continue the anti-fascist struggle
wherever we might be. And we did that to the best of our ability.
(7)
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.
(8)
Milton
Wolff,
interviewed by Judy Montell in 1991.
Spain was only one battle. World War II was only one battle,
what's going on in Central America, South Africa, the Middle East
now is another battle, and we're into these things. Struggle is the
elixir of life, the tonic of life. I mean, if you're not struggling,
your dead.
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