The Antechamber to the Second World War ---- They numbered over 35,000 from 53 countries, forming the International Brigades (IB). From the moment of Franco's coup d'état on July 16, 1936, informal groups mobilized to fight against fascism. Italians, Germans, and Austrians, in particular, were among them, as they knew the consequences of dictatorship. Jean Batou, Stéphanie Prezioso, and Ami-Jacques Rapin, along with some forty contributors, paint a portrait of these women and men who found themselves under fire from Franco's troops, far from their homelands, defending their values: fraternity, solidarity, and the urgent need to react. Their book, When Night Falls: International Volunteers Against Fascism (Spain 1936-1939), is published by Syllepse.
Ninety years ago, the Spanish Civil War began, and it was essential to highlight the stakes and the threats of war that preceded the conflict. This conflict served as a prelude to the Second World War. Western democracies were paralyzed under pressure from Great Britain. A Francoist minister would later emphasize that the policy of non-intervention had almost helped them more than the support of dictatorships. The book (900 pages) is divided into two parts: the first analyzes the political context, and the second compiles profiles of the volunteers from various countries, including France, of course, but also China, the United States, Greece, and others. Beyond the respect due to these volunteers, it is unfortunately necessary to emphasize the neglect, or worse, the trivialization of this tragedy-a form of denialism. This reinterpretation of history, this reduction of the opposing forces to a sinister "they are all equal," alienates today's youth at a time when the danger of the far right is once again a reality.
Who were these brigadistas? Young workers, mostly single, were militants with a class consciousness, identifying with the cause of the Spanish people. The communist movement, through the Comintern, invested in this growing awareness. Let's remain clear-sighted about Stalin's motivations, including Spain's gold reserves. But political nature abhors the vacuum left by Western democracies, and by the end of August, the USSR had become involved. On September 18, 1936, the International Brigades (BI) were created in Moscow. Their military officers came from the communist parties, while political and police control was ensured by the NKVD. Accusations and arrests, assassinations like those of Buenaventura Durruti, Camillo Berneri, and Andreu Nin, and disappearances aimed to eliminate anarchists and Trotskyists. In short, to carry out the same repression as in the USSR.
The Anarchist Presence
And the Armament? It was smuggled in by the Committee for a Free Spain and Louis Lecoin's Anarchist Union. Various networks were structured through Marceau Pivert, the POUM, and the CNT. In France, Minister Pierre Cot and senior civil servant Gaston Cusin provided discreet but effective support.
French anarchists found themselves in CNT-FAI combat units, such as the Durruti Column. Others, like Pierre Besnard, participated in propaganda and information campaigns.
Then, in 1938, the returns began to be organized. Was it a form of disillusionment? The Spanish Republic was primarily expecting weapons and ammunition. Bloody rivalries contributed to this return. After the Retirada, some foreign brigadistas were "welcomed" in French camps, such as the infamous Gurs camp, or even handed over to dictatorships. What became of the survivors? Often, they joined the Resistance in France or their respective countries because they had experience in armed struggle. The Germans and Austrians intended to continue the fight until their countries were liberated.
After the war, some became involved in anti-colonial struggles. Can we consider this revolutionary commitment irrelevant today? The authors of the book recall these volunteers in the early years of Nicaragua and more recently in Rojava. Approximately 700 went to participate in this remarkable experience. The slogan of anti-fascism possesses a revolutionary force. For them, "armed left-wing volunteers continue to represent an important element in the history of transnational conflicts and contemporary politics."
* Jean Batou, Stéphanie Prezioso, and Ami-Jacques Rapin
When Night Falls: International Volunteers Against Fascism (Spain 1936-1939)
Ed. Syllepse, 2026
https://monde-libertaire.net/?articlen=9028
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Source: A-infos-en@ainfos.ca
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