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| Internationalism and the Spanish Civil War |
Many wars have been fought in history. Wars over trade, religion, politics. But in history only a few wars can claim any sort of ?just? cause. Strangely enough one of the few wars that can claim this had been long forgotten. We almost never learn about it in history class. Oh yes, comrades, we learn all about WW1 how millions died for imperialism. And we know all about the Vietnam War, but our teachers forget about the great battle that was fought in 1936. They forget to teach us about the Spanish Civil war. It was here that many believed that democracy would live or die. Here that Anarchy, Communism, and simple Liberals alike fought the fascist foe, bravely showing the world that they would not go gently into that good night, so to speak.
In the spring of 1936 the Spanish military under the command of Generalissimo Francisco Franco staged a military coup in most of the cities in mainland Spain. The military, fascist groups, rich, and upper classes all helped Franco abolish the legitimate Spanish republic and establish a nationalist nation under the supreme command of the Generalissimo. Despite the armies weapons, planning, and tactics a few city?s rejected the fascists and held on to democracy. In the capital of Madrid the weak government had the national armories upended up to the Unions. In Barcelona an anarchist group 200 strong beat off the Nationalist uprising without any guns or even bladed weapons, using only their fists and what makeshift clubs they could find. Within days of the Falange Espanola, or Spanish fascists movements uprising the few free cities left declared the 2nd Spanish republic. While Franco relied on Nazis from Germany and Italian tanks and airplanes to fill his armies, The Republic filled their ranks with the common man. No longer were socialists, anarchists, or communists divided over petty details. Taking the red five pointed star as their symbol, they created the United Peoples front. Aiding this front were groups of foreigners. From France came the first groups. Then from Canada, England, the US. Many Irishmen ignored the Popes decrees and fought against Franco. Swiss (who were later jailed by their own government for fighting) came, Swedes came by the thousands, Mexicans, from all over the world brave souls came to Spain. They fought in the International Brigades, and the world has not seen anything like them since. As one poet put it:
Twenty years before I saw the light of morning
A tale of heroes was laid
From every corner of the world came soldiers
To join the International brigades
They came to stand beside the Spanish people
And try to stem the rising fascist tide
Franco?s allies were the powerful and wealthy
The Republicans came from the other side.-Christy Moore
In the battle of Madrid, Franco sent his Italian Airplanes to bomb the city. They aircraft ignored the tank yards and garrisons; they ignored the watchtowers and munitions plants. The Italians instead bombed the poor quarter known as Cunta Cantos, killing tens of thousands in a matter of days. Then Franco sent in the German troops. The Infamous Condor legion, the mightiest of Hitler?s warriors led the assault. Only the international brigades stood in their way. Before the battle a man from Chicago spoke to his troops in the Abraham Lincoln brigade. He said in his speech a line that would be the battle cry of the international brigades for years to come, ?Here is Madrid, my comrades, here is Madrid, but never shall she be Fascist.? That man was named Oliver Law. He was the first Black American to ever lead white troops. That day the international brigades, armed only with rifles and homemade grenades, stopped Francos Tanks. Somehow foot soldiers, even after five days of fighting, threw back armored division after armored division. And when the dreaded Condor Legion came, The Lincoln brigade, Connolly?s Brigade and the German Thaelmann brigade were there to meet the Nazis. That day the International brigades showed their worth. Throwing back anything the fascists could throw at them. Indeed, that day it did seem that Madrid would be the tomb of fascism.
But while the Native Spanish were slaughtered, and the International brigades fell to bombs and artillery, the Italians and Nazis kept coming. Oh, comrades my heart is heavy when I say that many Americans cried for the Spanish, many rich English sent a few dollars to aid their cause, but never did any nation send military aid. (Other than the Soviet Union, and even then only in the form of ?advisors?) What made so many leave their homes and die for a people that they did not know? What made them be declared ?traitorous? as many Americans that fought were called during the red scares. It was the sprit of internationalism my friends. The spirit that only we can claim. That we will die for the cause no matter where it is on earth, that if only one union is allowed because of our blood, if only two lives were saved because we died. We would not have died in vain. American Socialists have fought for many causes. We fought in Spain, we fought with Zedong, and we fought in Ireland and in Africa. We have fought in the Chinese mountains, and in the streets of New York. As young Socialists, no as young HUMAN BEINGS. We must learn this very sprite of Internationalism. We must take up the mantel, however heavy, that we have been given. And we must fight for the dignity of man, the rights of the worker. We must fight against any and all who knock down the worker. We must battle any fascists government, whither fascists or democratic in name, that seeks to take away our liberty. We must learn from Oliver law, and Norman Bethune. We must fallow in the foot-steps of Frank Ryan and Celia Greenspan. So here's to you my fallen comrades. Here?s to you Bethune and Law! Here's to the rights of man, the dignity of the worker and the International Revolution!
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on August 29 2006 16:58:25
It was the first time when people from different trade unions and political groups united againts their common enamy. |
on October 10 2006 02:35:49
What a beautiful tale. American, Spanish, Italian, German, whatever. It doesn't matter. We're all human, and we should all unite like humans. |
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