INTERNATIONAL BRIGADES IN THE SPANISH CIVIL WAR
Given the different levels of support being given by the foreign governments, the Nationalists
had an advantage in terms of state support. However, in terms of volunteers, the reverse was
true. The Brigades, featuring figures such as George Orwell and Tito (post-war Communist
leader of Yugoslavia), fought for the Republic and contributed much to its defence. The
French Communist Party leader, Maurice Thorez, started discussion on their creation. This
was soon followed in July 1936 by a pledge of support from Stalin’s USSR. The Comintern (a
body responsible for organising international Communism) was to be involved in the
campaign. This raised some alarm bells in Western Europe, as the Comintern had only just
stopped referring to moderate Socialist parties (such as British Labour) as “Social Fascists”.
The size of the International Brigades was probably around the 35,000 mark, although some
different estimates exist. Its members came from a wide variety of nations:
However, it was not made up of Communists alone. Its ranks were swelled by Left wingers
fleeing oppression in Italy and Germany, victims of the unemployment caused by the Great
Depression, intellectuals and moderate Socialists. What united the vast majority of them was
a hatred of Fascism, and a fear that victory for Franco could place European politics in
danger.
The influence of the USSR on the International Brigades has been a point of debate. It was in
charge of troops with many different motives, but Communists did make up a sizable
proportion. Comintern agents were very important to the Brigades, as they organised many of
its actions. Recruitment for the Brigades was their responsibility, and its agents did much to
bring volunteers into Spain via Paris. The training camp in Albacete was run by a French
Communist (Andre Marty), and its units arrived just after the Soviet regime supplied the
Republic with arms. Additionally, the Spanish Communists (PCE) and the Catalan Socialists
(PSUC) were linked to the Comintern. The Comintern’s official line was that they were
fighting against Fascism, not to spark a revolution. However, the PCE and PSUC sometimes
took a more aggressive line. They were often unwilling to negotiate, and maintained extremist
positions: an eye-witness recounted how they attacked opponents. Communists also
dominated the JSU (Socialist Youth Movement)
“the Communists have got into the habit of denouncing as a Trotskyite
everybody who disagrees with them about anything… in this respect
the Spanish Communists… took care to make things unpleasant for me.”
Campaigns of the Civil War
The first involvement of the Brigades came in Madrid, with the Republican forces in a
bad state. As General Mola was poised for success, the Republic’s Minister for War
(Miaja) was given the responsibility of forming a Defence Council on 6th November.
Few rated its chances of victory.
However, Franco was otherwise occupied at this time of crisis. The International
Brigades’ first units arrived on 8th November, mainly consisting of Europeans. One of
the most famous of these Brigades was named “Thaelmann”, after the German
Communist leader. Led by General Kleber, their arrival led to raised morale, and their
training helped them pass on knowledge about military matters to civilians. Many
Germans were amongst these troops, and given Hitler’s treatment of them they had
little motive to leave the fight no matter how bad.
The campaign soon became intense, with hand-to-hand combat breaking out in the
University’s buildings by mid-November. Slogans such as “they shall not pass” and
“Madrid will be the tomb of Fascism” became common, and the words of Dolores
Ibarruri (“Pasionaria”) were heard supporting the Republic:
“Better to die on your feet than live on your knees”
“Better to be the widow of a hero than the wife of a coward”
However, the campaign turned against them: towards the end of Madrid, they were
absorbing much of the punishment with high casualty numbers. The Brigades had
been valiant, but eventually lost.
In Guadalajara, they enjoyed success over Italian troops. However, whether this
victory ever had the potential to be decisive is debatable. One aspect of it could have
turned matters. Documents captured by them proved that Italians fighting in the war
were soldiers, not volunteers. This amounted to a clear breach of the Non-Intervention
Pact, and was presented to the Committee. However, the evidence was not accepted
and no action was taken.
By 1938, their existence was becoming a problem. On 25th September 1938, the head
of the Republican government (Negrin) announced that they would have to leave for
diplomatic reasons. Their position as heroes to many was reflected by Pasionaria’s
words: “You can go with pride. You are history. You are legend. You are the heroic
example of the solidarity and universality of democracy.”
Flag presented to International Brigade Volunteers on their departure,
Barcelona 1938.