On the 75th anniversary of the formation of the International Brigades, Katt Kremer gave this excellent presentation to the Stalin Society, summarizing the events of the Spanish Civil war, its principle protagonists and their political ideology, as well as a brief history of the main battles of the war and its course.
In this key anti-fascist struggle, the prelude to imperialism’s war on the Soviet Union (world war 2), the international proletariat rallied to the defense of the Spanish republic. Some 35,000 workers from at least 53 countries answered the call of the communist international to form the International Brigades.
Despite the loss of the republic in 1939, as Dolores Ibárruri, “La Pasionaria”, stated in her famous farewell address:
“Today many are departing. Thousands remain, shrouded in Spanish earth, profoundly remembered by all Spaniards. Comrades of the International Brigades: Political reasons, reasons of state, the welfare of that very cause for which you offered your blood with boundless generosity, are sending you back, some to your own countries and others to forced exile. You can go proudly. You are history. You are legend. You are the heroic example of democracy’s solidarity and universality in the face of the vile and accommodating spirit of those who interpret democratic principles with their eyes on hoards of wealth or corporate shares which they want to safeguard from all risk.
“We shall not forget you; and, when the olive tree of peace is in flower, entwined with the victory laurels of the Republic of Spain — return!
“Return to our side for here you will find a homeland — those who have no country or friends, who must live deprived of friendship — all, all will have the affection and gratitude of the Spanish people who today and tomorrow will shout with enthusiasm:
“Long live the heroes of the International Brigades!”
Full text of her inspiring and profoundly moving speech here:
http://redyouthuk.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=556&action=edit&message=6&postpost=v2
Further Reading:
75th Anniversary of the International Brigades:
http://www.cpgb-ml.org/index.php?secName=proletarian&subName=display&art=768&from=results
“Land and Freedom” and the Trotskyite distortions told regarding the Spanish Civil War:
http://www.lalkar.org/issues/contents/jul2008/landandfreedom.php
Spain – dismembering history:
http://www.cpgb-ml.org/index.php?secName=proletarian&subName=display&art=229&from=results
How the spanish government deals with the descendants of Republican Spain – persecuting communists:
http://www.cpgb-ml.org/index.php?secName=proletarian&subName=display&art=701&from=results
Join us:
http://www.cpgb-ml.org
http://www.stalinsociety.org.uk