The involvement of the International Brigades in the Spanish Civil War
explanatory Essay
1077 words
The involvement of the International Brigades in the Spanish Civil War
On the 18 July 1936, leading Generals of the Spanish Army led a revolt against the democratically elected Popular Front government of Spain. Within days the country was plunged into civil war with the Republicans fighting the insurgent Nationalists for control of the country. The various democracies of the world turned their backs on Spain's plight and even hindered the Republicans by supporting non-intervention in the conflict. However, many people came to help the Republic. Las Brigades Internacionales, the International Brigades, would eventually include almost 40,000 men and women from 53 different countries, from all around the world.
The International Brigades began as an idea in July and August of 1936, but soon its formation became the main work of the Comintern (the body with the responsibility of fostering the world-wide spread of Communism). Each Communist party was instructed to raise volunteers who would be sent to Spain by train or boat. Around 60% of the volunteers were Communists, but non-Communists were also welcomed. The first group of recruits came to Spain by train from Paris, and arrived at their base in Albacete, halfway between Madrid and Valencia, on the 14th of October.
It was there that the 500 French, German and Polish recruits began training. The theme of the recruitment propaganda was based on the slogan that Spain should be "The grave of European Fascism", and with this in mind volunteers continued to flow into Spain from France. One of the organisers of recruits in Paris was the future Marshal Tito - Joseph Broz. In Albacete the volunteers were organised into language groups and the base was put under the command of Andre Marty. The Brigades were to be led by General Emilio Kleber and intensive training was to take place in the base before going to the front.
The International Brigades baptism of fire came on the 8th of November 1936, when the XIth and XIIth Brigades went to the Madrid front. They numbered about 3,500 men altogether, and were extremely important to the defence of Madrid. The fighting in Madrid eventually reached stalemate and the Brigades were transferred to other fronts. The XI, XIII and XV Brigades fought at the Brunete offensive of July 1937, where losses were very high, and where Oliver Law, the Afro- American commander of the Lincoln Battalion was killed. The Brigades also played a major part in the Aragon offensive of August 1937, and were formally incorporated into the Republican Army around this time.
In this essay, the author
- Describes the involvement of the international brigades in the spanish civil war.
- Explains that the international brigades began as an idea in july and august of 1936, but soon its formation became the main work of the comintern.
- Explains that the recruitment propaganda was based on the slogan that spain should be "the grave of european fascism".
- Explains that the international brigades baptism of fire came on the 8th of november 1936, when they went to the madrid front. they numbered about 3,500 men, and were extremely important to madrid's defence.
- Explains that general o'duffy's assistance to franco is the most famous irish involvement in the spanish civil war, but there were also irishmen who fought on the republican side of the conflict.
- Explains that the former i.r.a men did not require much training and went into battle on the cordoba front in 1936. they were then transferred to madrid front, and at the end of january 1937, the badly depleted unit joined the newly formed xv international brigade.
- Explains that the irish fought in the battle of jarama, the brunete offensive, and the aragon offensive.
- Explains that the republican prime minister, dr. juan negrin, announced the withdrawal of the international brigades from spain in the hope that this would lead to the withdraw of italian, german, and portuguese troops who were fighting for franco.
- Explains that the republican side lost its battle with the fascists on the 1st of april 1939. many of the international brigade veterans were exiled from their home countries, or returned home to be labelled as "reds".
Related
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- Spanish Civil Warcomparative essaySpanish Civil War (1936–39), military revolt against the Republican government of Spain, supported by conservative elements within the country. When an initial military coup failed to win control of the entire country, a bloody civil war ensued, fought with great ferocity on both sides. The Nationalists, as the rebels were called, received aid from fascist Italy and Nazi Germany. The Republicans received aid from the Soviet Union, as well as from International Brigades, composed of volunteers from Europe and the United States. The war was an outcome of a polarization of Spanish life and politics that had developed over previous decades.
In this essay, the author
- Describes the spanish civil war, a military revolt against the republican government of spain, supported by conservative elements within the country. the nationalists received aid from fascist italy and nazi germany.
- Explains that the war was an outcome of a polarization of spanish life and politics that had developed over previous decades. politically their differences found extreme expression in parties such as the fascist-oriented falange and the militant anarchists.
- Explains that a well-planned military uprising began on july 17, 1936, in garrison towns throughout spain. by july 21, the rebels had achieved control in spanish morocco, the canary islands, and the balearic islands
- Explains that general franco assumed the captaincy of the nationalists and set up a government in burgos. the republican government was headed by francisco largo caballero and juan negrn.
- Explains that both the nationalist and republican sides, seeing themselves as too weak to win a quick victory, turned abroad for help.
- Explains that the nationalists had advanced to the outskirts of madrid, laid siege to it but were unable to get beyond the university city area. they captured the basque northern provinces in the summer of 1937 and then asturias.
- Estimates the number of people killed in the spanish civil war, including those who died from malnutrition, starvation, and war-engendered disease.
986 wordsRead More - Spanish Civil War Analysisanalytical essaySecond, France and its response to the Spanish Civil War had a noninterventionist policy by the French government. To start, Jose M. Sanchez’s main argument in the international Catholic response to the war was that, “No event of political or social significance since the beginning of the nineteenth century engendered such heated religious debate among Christians worldwide as did the Spanish Civil War.” The war signified a Catholic united condemnation for or against the war but the politics involved with the war led to an ideological push to support one side over the other. As Sanchez argued, “In France, a majority Catholic nation with a strong tradition of anticlericalism and a powerful intellectual community, there was a loud and prestigious
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how france and its response to the spanish civil war had a noninterventionist policy by the french government.
- Explains that julian jackson, a historian of modern france, analyzes the french popular front from an international context in his book, the popular fight for democracy.
- Analyzes how the spanish civil war jeopardized the chance of building bridges between catholics and the popular front.
- Analyzes how jackson furthered the right wing propaganda that franco became the defender of the church, while the press pictured the nationalists as crusaders.
- Analyzes how the french catholic preachers charged the republican side of persecuting the catholics. they stressed the anticlerical fury, and their own bishops’ statements were not unlike the spanish bishop’s letters.
- Analyzes how the fury of the catholic leadership painted the anti-catholics of spain as atheistic communists. the republicans were part of this conspiracy to destroy the rights of catholics and to allow a bolshevik takeover
- Analyzes how the war reached the basque provinces and the refugee crisis effected the entire continent.
- Analyzes how the french popular front government, led by leon blum, chose not to intervene directly in the spanish civil war.
- Analyzes how adamthwaite analyzed how the french government decided for a noninterventionist policy did.
- Analyzes how jackson argues that the french government seemed sympathetic to the spanish republicans.
- Analyzes how blum's instinctive desire was to send aid to the beleaguered spanish republic where a popular front government had been elected in february.
- Opines that blum's decision in regards to spain had a lasting consequence with not just supporters of the second republic in spain, but french catholics.
- Analyzes how french catholics criticized the french government's policy of nonintervention. raguer argued that intervention was an expression of solidarity between the great absolute monarchs
- Analyzes how martin hurcombe's book, france and the spanish civil war, analyzed the french intelligentsia from a cultural perspective.
- Explains that georges bernanos witnessed nationalist atrocities in majorca and had a son who fought for the falange.
- Analyzes how bernanos became an increasingly vociferous critic of the spanish church’s role in the war, foreign intervention, and the oppression of spanish people by the nationalist authorities.
- Analyzes how hurcombe's overall outlook of the french intellectuals, whose works include novels, became divided. bernanos furthered his critique of defending franco and the nationalists.
1602 wordsRead More - Pancho Villaexplanatory essay...ur taken prisoners. As a result, Wilson prepared a letter to Congress demanding a full-scale war and an ultimatum was sent to Carranza, demanding the release of all American prisoners, which Mexico had already threatened to kill. Within days, all prisoners were released and all international bridges were seized. Although Carranza was finished, Pancho Villa was not ready to throw in the towel. Thus, he prepared for a series of attacks to come. General Pershing reported to Wilson of Villa’s repeated violence, but Villa continued, capturing many towns held by Carranzista forces. On January 1917, Pancho Villa gathered his forces to capture Toreon. In the end, hundreds of his men were dead and his defeat was seized upon by Wilson as a convenient way out of the problems in Mexico.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that doroteo aranga hated aristocratic dons, who worked he and many other mexicans like slaves. he shot the man and fled to the sierra madre for the next fifteen years.
- Describes how pancho villa offered his services to the rebel leader francisco i. madero during the mexican revolution of 1910-1911 — he served under victoriano huerta, who sentenced him to death for insubordination.
- Explains how villa joined the opposition under the revolutionary venustiano carranza and gained control of northern mexico, including mexico city.
- Narrates how pancho villa was betrayed by president wilson and assumed carranza had signed a dangerous pact with the u.s.
- Describes how the punitive expedition, costing the u.s. about twenty-five million dollars, dispatched and about 150,000 troops to be mobilized in efforts to capture pancho villa.
- Analyzes how pershing's expedition included new machinery, trucks, and planes, which were the reason for the deaths of many american soldiers who did not know how to operate them.
- Describes how pershing received word of villa's hiding place on the second day of april of 1916. major hank tomkins, commander of the thirteenth cavalry, was ordered to parral.
- Narrates how the mexican people retaliated against the americans, and the american people demanded a full-scale invasion of mexico.
- Narrates how pancho villa's defeat was seized upon by wilson as a convenient way out of the problems in mexico.
- Narrates how villa formed a truce with the new government by laying down his arms in exchange for land and amnesty.
1442 wordsRead More - Spanish American Warexplanatory essayThe Spanish and American War The Americans were brought into The Spanish and American War on February 15,1898. The Americans came into this war because a naval boat of ours called the Maine was blown up. On that boat, 327of our sailors were killed in the explosion. With this explosion, the navy used it by having a slogan ,“Remember the Maine,” to get volunteers into the navy to help fight. We though that the Spanish were to blame for blowing up our ship.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the americans were brought into the spanish and american war because a naval boat called the maine was blown up. newspaper tycoon william randolph hearst took great advantages of the war and stretched the truth to the extreme.
- Explains that america fought because it had big money in cuba, with over $250 million invested in sugar, tobacco plantations, and transportation.
- Explains that william mccleain hated war, but he decided to take other things, like the philippines, guam, and portico, for navel passages. he gave a speech to congress for war on april 11, 1898.
- Explains that the spanish had an army of 400,000 men and we only had 28,000 men, but this changed after congress declared war. the national guard got 1 million recruits during the war, this was the highest ever.
- Explains that william shaft and joe weeles were the two generals from the civil war. teddy roosevelt was the first member of his family to be in a war.
- Explains that america had a problem getting people to join the army because more men died of diseases then died from bullets. the disadvantage was that our men weren't trained to fight in the jungle.
- Opines that we were stupid during the war especially in one fight that was both a victory and defeat. we lost 17,000 men, but still won the fight.
- Narrates how the navy won another big victory when it destroyed all the spanish ships that were trying to escape. it killed 400 sailors and captured 1700 others.
- Narrates how they marched in to the spanish capital and took over the rest of spans land, including portico, guam, hawaii, and the philippians.
- Explains that after 20 years the veteran roughriders came back to see what they had done and to apologias to the people.
939 wordsRead More - How Did The Spanish Civil War Influence Francoanalytical essayThe Spanish Civil War played a significant role during the troublesome Europe in the 1930s. Although it did not make World War II inevitable, it increased the likelihood of a general war a great deal. The war had a tremendous impact on Spain itself, leaving much of the state's economic and social infrastructure in ruins and leaving thousands dead. But the war also saw involvement from other European states as both sides of the conflict, the right wing Nationalists and the left wing Republicans requested and received foreign aid not only in terms of financial assets, but also in terms of war material and troops. Adolf Hitler's Germany was one of the foreign countries most involved in the conflict, contributing economic loans as well as several
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the spanish civil war played a significant role during the troublesome europe in the 1930s. it left much of spain's economic and social infrastructure in ruins and left thousands dead.
- Analyzes the ramifications of the spanish civil war for the rest of europe. the war undermined hitler's credibility and drove the ussr away from britain and france.
- Analyzes how franco's dictatorial leadership was the primary source for spanish post-war policy and its potential to be categorized as fascist.
- Analyzes how franco's regime lacked the ideological impetus characteristic of totalitarian governments. after the civil war franco moved to weaken the falangist and fascist party.
- Explains that franco's fascism was not complete and that he was supported by fascist italy and nazi germany.
1018 wordsRead More - The Spanish American War: The Causes Of The Spanish-American Warexplanatory essayTHE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR 1898 The Spanish-American War was a war fought for Cuban independence. It was fought in 1898 and resulted in an American victory. The causes of the Spanish-American War are as follows. In 1985 Lose Marti led a revolt against the Spanish, fighting for Cuban independence.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the spanish-american war was fought for cuban independence in 1898 and resulted in an american victory.
- Explains the importance of the spanish-american war, which began a period of great american investment on the island.
- Analyzes how fulgencio batista became the head of the cuban government in 1952 after previously governing from 1933 to 1944.
- Describes how the monaca barracks in santiago de cuba was the site of fidel castro's first short-lived uprising.
- Describes how fidel castro and his brother raul led a group of approximately 160 rebels in an attack on the second largest military garrison in cuba, the moncada barracks.
- Describes how che guevara met raul and fidel castro and joined the july 26th movement, which formed immediately upon batista's release of the castro brothers and other prisoners.
- Explains the importance of the granma landing because the castros and che were now in cuba.
- Explains that sierra maestra is a mountain range that runs across the south of the orient province.
- Explains that the 26th of july movement's name originated from the failed attack on the moncada barracks, an army facility in the city of santiago de cuba.
- Explains that castro's revolutionary forces took havana without the use of force, and the end of the first political cuban revolution.
- Explains that the platt amendment was passed as part of the 1901 army appropriations bill. it stipulated seven conditions for the withdrawal of united states troops in cuba, and an eighth condition that cuba signs a treaty.
2234 wordsRead More - Spanish-American Waranalytical essayApril 15, 1898, was a pivotal movement in American history. The United States declared war upon Spain, and forever changed the lives of people in both countries. The war between the United States and Spain was preceded by three years of fighting by Cuban revolutionaries attempting to gain independence from Spanish colonial rule. Throughout these three years, many causes for a declaration of war were created adding fuel to a growing fire of outrage throughout the nation.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that april 15, 1898, was a pivotal moment in american history when the united states declared war on spain, and forever changed the lives of people in both countries.
- Explains that americans were war-mad and felt sorry for cuban people because even after the ten years war of 1868-1878, they still had not gained their independence.
- Explains that the public opinion was heavily based on what they read in newspapers. hearst and pulitzer made cuban news distorted and blew it out of proportion. the spanish-american war was known as the first "media war".
- Explains that america was concerned about business interests in cuba, with over $50 million invested in sugar, tobacco, mining and other public utilities. after the second war for independence, jose marti launched a revolution.
- Explains that cuba is located in a prime location, making it convenient to have as an international ally for the future. the united states had no intention of taking cuba’s independence via the teller amendment.
- Explains that the uss maine mysteriously exploded on february 15, 1898. yellow journalism advocated that spaniards deliberately blew the ship up, which outraged many citizens.
- Explains that the spanish-american war was of very little importance from a military standpoint, but many important results came about after it ended.
- Explains that the treaty of paris, signed on december 10, 1898, ended the spanish-american war and granted the united states their first overseas empire.
- Analyzes how the annexation of the philippines led to the rebelling of filipinos and the philippine-american war in 1899.
- Describes how america extended its power into the pacific ocean with the annexation of hawaii in 1898. the spanish-american war encouraged this thinking because it brought a strong sense of nationalism to the country.
- Analyzes how the end of the war signaled a significant shift in powers as the united states became imperialistic.
- Explains that the united states built the panama canal to connect the atlantic and pacific oceans and make the transportation of goods and governing easier for them.
- Explains that the spanish-american war led to america becoming an imperialistic nation. the strong sense of public involvement in the country encouraged the taking of colonies.
- Opines that it was logical that america would take advantage of its power and expand its territory accordingly. it was vital for the united states to become imperialistic for national security and economic reasons.
- Explains that the spanish-american war opened the doors for america to reach its peak power. it allowed expansion, the gaining of valuable assets, and much more.
1054 wordsRead More - The New White Man's Burdenanalytical essayIn the latter half of the nineteenth century, tensions in Cuba were rapidly rising. The Cuban Ten Year’s War from 1868 to 1878 had sparked a fire for independence from Spain with the natives. In 1892, José Julián Martí y Pérez formed El Partido Revolucionario Cubano, or the Cuban Revolutionary party. The Cuban independence movement known as Ejército Libertador de Cuba began in February of 1895 with the motto, “Independencio o Muerte” (Independence or Death). Multiple minor battles between Cuba and Spain took place that year. (Library of Congress)
In this essay, the author
- Explains that nations have invested time and manpower into colonizing and modernizing rural governments. imperialism spread across the globe, from the british east india company to france’s occupation of northern africa.
- Describes how the cuban ten year's war sparked a fire for independence from spain with the natives. josé julián mart y pérez formed el partido revolucionario cuba.
- Analyzes how president grover cleveland's neutrality toward the cuban conflict led to tensions between america and spain.
- Narrates how president mckinley proposed a stable government that would maintain order and secure the "peace and stability" of cuban and u.s. citizens.
- Describes how the united states defeated the spanish army garrisons in cuba. the spanish caribbean squadron was annihilated as they attempted to escape the u.s. naval blockade of santiago.
- Explains that a cease-fire was finally called on august 12, 1898. the treaty of paris was signed on december 10, granting independence to cuba and passing sovereignty of guam and puerto rico to the united states.
- Explains how the united states dominated the hawaiian economy and developed a heavy influence within the government. queen liliuokalani took the throne in the early 1890s.
- Analyzes how the inauguration of grover cleveland brought the process to a screeching halt.
- Opines that the philippine-american war was the most repugnant example of american imperialism. over the next three years, there would be more than 4,200 american soldiers and 20,000 filipino soldiers killed.
- Opines that american soldiers used sickening and unjust tactics on civilians, such as burning villages, putting natives in concentration camps, and torture techniques on suspected guerrillas.
- Narrates how they killed over 300 natives the first night. they tried to set the town on fire, but if they fire a shot from the house, they burn down and shoot the relatives.
- Analyzes how a new york-born soldier echoes these sentiments in his letter to general wheaton, describing the reaction to his fellow soldier's murder.
- Opines that the united states emerged victorious in 1902 as news of the methods used by american soldiers increased across the country.
- Narrates how the u.s. suggested an open door trade policy in china as atrocities against humanities were being committed in the philippines.
- Narrates how president theodore roosevelt purchased the property for $40 million in 1902 after french engineers abandoned construction of the panama canal in the late 1800s.
- Explains that roosevelt's actions were unconstitutional, but the u.s. foreign policy of imperialism did not end there.
- Explains that between 1898 and 1929, the united states had troops in thirty-two latin american countries in an attempt to create stable democratic governments and trade opportunities for the u.s.
- Argues that the monroe doctrine can't be used as a scapegoat in the united states of america's foreign policy.
- Cites small planet's "the age of imperialism." merriam-webster.com.
- Cites miller, stuart c., "letter from new york-born soldier." benevolent assimilation: the american conquest of the philippines, 1899-1903.
1547 wordsRead More - The Cuban Revolutionanalytical essay... arrange a Military Junta.” (Goldenberg 1965: 163) However, before the plan could be put into operation, ‘the battle of Santa’ Clara took place, ending in a total fiasco for government troops.”(Goldenberg 1965: 163; Macgaffey 1962: 293) On the night of December 31, Batista and his collaborators fled to Dominica Republic. (Macgaffey 1962: 293) Immediately, Fidel called for general strike and subsequently, other major cities surrendered and Fidel and his rebels marched to Havana. (Goldenberg 1965: 163; Macgaffey 1962: 293)
In this essay, the author
- Explains that fidel's rebel army consisted of students or graduates, and nearly all of them were young people like himself and his brother, ral.
- Describes how the rebels gathered outside santiago, in the fidel's native province of oriente, where they could launch an attack on moncada barracks, the army’s second largest military installation.
- Narrates how fort moncada was captured by surprise, with machine guns, tanks, armored trucks, up-to-date rifles and ammunition.
- Opines that they were to announce a revolution based on ‘creole values,’ led by new men, free of all obstacles with foreign nations and... of appetites of politicians.
- Analyzes how the publicity was designed to call the people to revolt against the dictator, batista. undercut from his main prop of support, he would resign and the orthodox party would vault into political power.
- Analyzes how fidel castro failed to consult the party, informing it of his intended actions only a day before the assault on moncada. other rebels managed to enter the barracks and overpowered the guards.
- Analyzes how lieutenant pedro sarria whispered in castro's ear to never give his real name, or else he would be killed.
- Analyzes how the attack on moncada barracks ended in disaster and the rebels did not reach their main targets, but it was not entirely a failure. it catapulted fidel castro into the forefront of anti-batista forces and convinced many cubans that only an armed struggle would ouster batist
- Analyzes how fidel proved he was brilliant, courageous, learned, a scholar of distinction in law, philosophy, history, and cited lack of freedom in cuba as reason for his involvement.
- Analyzes how fidel's speech to the court was discursive and carefully wrought. he used this position to embarrass the batista regime.
- Analyzes how fidel challenged the prosecution's case which rested on article 148 of the code of social defense.
- Analyzes how castro's regime prevented him from attending court sessions under the pretext that he was ill. the revolutionary movement was already aware of the length the regime could go.
- Analyzes how fidel spoke for five hours and read history will absolve me, a speech he wrote while in the prison cell. he called for reforms of cuba's political system, an end to economic dependency on the united states, and social justice.
- Analyzes how the sentencing of castro and his group only brought woes to batista's regime.
- Describes how batista's campaign for amnesty for all political prisoners and exiles grew strong after the grau’s withdrawal of his candidacy in the presidential race.
- Narrates how batista gave in to domestic and international pressure to grant all political prisoners amnesty.
- Explains that batista had no intention of letting the legend, fidel grow into a menace, despite granting amnesty to the prisoners.
- Narrates how fidel, ral and guevara were joined by many of the moncada survivors and others who had been in exile. the revolutionaries had to procure arms and be trained in the use of arms.
- Narrates how castro sought support from the exiles living in the united states and raised money among them in florida and new york. he then returned to mexico and procured arms.
- Analyzes how the guerrilla movement deteriorated inside cuba, and how a serious army conspiracy led by colonel ramón barqun led to the gradual decline in batista's support.
- Narrates how the guerrillas learned how to shoot with pistols, rifles and machines guns. they were ready to launch the invasion of cuba, and castro secretly met echeverra and agreed to work together with the 26th july movement.
- Narrates how the rising began in santiago on november 30, 1956, the day the rebels were supposed to land in cuba.
- Narrates how fidel met a new york times correspondent herbert matthews on february 15, 1957, who convinced the people that castro was still alive.
- Describes how the batista's army forced thousands of peasants into camps near santiago to counteract the guerrillas.
- Analyzes how the united states helped the demise of batista by placing an arms embargo on cuban government before fidel's planned offensive against guerrillas.
- Analyzes how batista planned to hold elections in november at which his candidate, rivero aguero, would be chosen as a successor.
- Narrates how the batista camp collapsed during the last weeks of december. the battle of santa clara ended in a total fiasco for government troops.
- Narrates how fidel's army marched into santiago, and accepted unconditional surrender of batista’s forces at moncada. the war was over and he rode in triumph from one end of the island to the other and arrived in havana on january 8.
3100 wordsRead More - How Did Franco's Forces Contribute To The Outbreak Of The Civil Warexplanatory essayFranco’s forces had significant military advantage over the loyalists since they had armed forces, weapons, and allies to assist them and that caused the outbreak of the civil war. On the other hand, the loyalist army lacked everything, even mundane and necessary objects such as field glasses and maps (1227). German soldiers and armies fought against Spanish peasants, anarchist workers, shop clerks, and foreign volunteers—many of who did not speak Spanish—and leftists did not fare well (1227). For the republican loyalists, it was impossible to only count on their countrymen. They depended on receiving arms, weapons, and general supplies from the western democratic countries (1228). Britain for example, did not want to go to war; the British government wanted to
In this essay, the author
- Explains that franco's forces had significant military advantage over the loyalists since they had armed forces, weapons, and allies to assist them and that caused the outbreak of the civil war.
- Explains that spain was used as a military training and testing ground. hitler sent planes, guns, munitions, and other supplies through portugal.
444 wordsRead More