The Abraham Lincoln Brigade - True American Heroes

[corksean]

As an Irishman I have long been interested in Ireland's involvement in the Spanish Civil War and the ordinary people who fought against Franco and fascism. Along with volunteers from over 50 other countries they went to Spain to support the people and try to prevent Franco's dictatorship. Almost 3,000 Americans volunteered, and became known as the "Abe Lincoln Brigade". I don't know how well publicised their involvement is but I thought you might be interested. This page gives a good overview:

http://www.writing.upenn.edu/~afilreis/88/abe-brigade.html

BTW, I first heard of the Irish involvement through a song by Christy Moore called "Viva la Quinta Brigada". If you're interested the lyrics are here: http://www.lyrictracker.com/show.php?id=NjY3OTA=

[RaleighNCDUer]

1. My understanding was that there were two units --

the Abe Lincoln Brigade, all Americans, and the International Brigade, which included the Irish, Brits, Russians, and even some Germans who had fled Hitler's Germany.

Of course, I never learned about it school. They don't teach real history in the US.

ON EDIT:
Just went back and read the linked article. Fascinating stuff. It's amazing how much is left out of our histories.

[corksean]

All foreigners fought under the International Brigade Flag...

but were assigned Brigade numbers. So the Americans were the Fifteenth International Brigade and the Irish fought in the Fifth along with the British and various other Europeans.

[lenidog]

2. They don't teach crap

>>>They don't teach real history in the US.<<<

My girlfriend who went to a very good school told me that she never knew how little they taught her in HS or how much they white washed. Till she met me.(Finishing my Masters in history)

[lenidog]

3. My senior undergrad project

was about the foreign brigades that fought for the Republicans during the Civil War.

[phusion]

4. Howard Zinn...

Talks about this in his book, You Can't Be Neutral on a Moving Train.

Good read...Here's a quote:
"To be hopeful in bad times is not just foolishly romantic. It is based on the fact that human history is a history not only of cruelty, but also of compassion, sacrifice, courage, kindness. What we choose to emphasize in this complex history will determine our lives. If we see only the worst, it destroys our capacity to do something. If we remember those times and places—and there are so many—where people have behaved magnificently, this gives us the energy to act, and at least the possibility of sending this spinning top of a world in a different direction. And if we do act, in however small a way, we don’t have to wait for some grand utopian future. The future is an infinite succession of presents, and to live now as we think human beings should live, in defiance of all that is bad around us, is itself a marvelous victory.” -Howard Zinn

[corksean]

6. Excellent quote - Hits the nail right on the head

[bobbieinok]

5. when I first heard of it, all I heard was that they were communists

in actual fact, don't many historians see the Spanish Civil War as a war in which Germany and the Soviet Union tested weapons, strategy, etc, in preparation for the 'real war' WWII??

[corksean]

7. There was a strong communist involvement

but many of those taking part were doing it simply because they could see that Fascism was just plain wrong.
You're right about the weaponry being tested by Hitler. He obviously saw Spain as a test run for WW2.

[bobbieinok]

8. movie made of For Whom the Bell Tolls

Based on the best-selling controversial novel by Pulitzer and Nobel Prize-winning author Ernest Hemingway, For Whom the Bell Tolls graces the screen with legendary stars Gary Cooper and Ingrid Bergman. The story follows expatriate American demolition expert Robert Jordan (Cooper) who aides anti-fascist freedom fighters of Spain. Assisting him is a band of warriors including the strong-willed Pilar (Katina Paxinou in an Oscar winning performance), the dangerously undependable Pablo (Akim Tamiroff) and the lovely, innocent Maria (Bergman). As danger mounts, Robert and Maria develop a closeness that blossoms into one of the screen's greatest love stories. Epic in scope yet intimate in feeling,"For Whom the Bell Tolls" remains a shining example of Hollywood moviemaking at its finest.

[corksean]

9. I'm with you on that one, watched it again last week on TV

[The Magistrate]

10. A Useful Book On The Subject, Sir

That ought to be available witout too much difficulty, is "The Abraham Lincoln Brigade" by Arthur Landis.

In some respects it must be read with care, as Mr. Landis is a Communist, and cannot be trusted in discussion of non-Communist elements in the story, whether of the left or of the right, but the book is very good in its examination of and reporting on the International Brigades themselves, drawing on a great many first hand sources for its picture.

"Viva Columno Durrutti!"

[proud patriot]

11. This is a great story

The Abe lincoln brigade also helped with
ambulances in Nicaraga in the 80s . There was
a documentary made about them it was on PBS
ages ago .

[latebloomer]

12. As a "red-diaper" baby

I used to accompany my parents to the Abraham Lincoln Brigade veterans' annual luncheon in NYC. What an incredible group of fine, brave men who continued their activism into their old age. Sadly, very few of them survive.

They called themselves "premature anti-fascists".

[no_hypocrisy]

14. My uncle was literally on the gangplank of a boat on its way to join the

Abraham Lincoln Brigade when his father pulled him off and made him go home. God, he had guts to leave everything behind to fight for a principle and his truth.

[latebloomer]

19. I admire his courage

but, as a mom, I understand how his father felt-- I assume he was afraid for his son's life, but not against the cause?

[bobbieinok]

15. you may know this already.....MSavage calls everyone he hates

'red diaper doper babies'.....sometimes his rants imply 'they' all became liberal lawyers constantly working to destroy the US

[latebloomer]

20. I believe I've heard the term

Scuse me while I :puke:

[Stephanie]

16. You're a red diaper baby?

What a badge of honor! I know a few in NYC. Little Red Schoolhouse alums.

[latebloomer]

18. Yup, even my grandpa was a Red

and there was a wonderful feeling of connection growing up in that milieu, despite the anti-Communist paranoia surrounding us.

[Minstrel Boy]

13. The international brigades make wonderful history.

50,000 volunteers from more than 50 countries.

Canada's contingent comprised the Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion, or "Mac Paps." It was named after two Canadian patriots who led rebellions against the colonial government in 1837.



A national monument was recently unveiled in Ottawa:



The monument contains a five meter high sheet of corten steel out of which has been cut a silhouetted figure of Prometheus raising his arm toward the sun. The figure is mounted on a concrete pedestal bearing a memorial plaque which reads, in part: "The Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion (The Mac-Paps), Canadian Volunteers of the International Brigades, Spain, 1936-39". Adjacent to the monument is a memorial wall containing 52 stainless steel panels on which have been inscribed the names of the 1,546 Volunteers.
http://www.workingtv.com/nationalmacpapmonument.html

[Stephanie]

17. They are STILL around!

When we were arriving for the first anti-war rally in NYC - the one against bombing Afghanistan - I saw them. They had their banner and they were marching up Fifth Avenue to enter the park and it was THRILLING to see them. I wish I had a camera. I'm now resolved to get a camera. The very fact that they are still here and still active is totally inspiring.