Alexander Clifford - The Peoples Army in the Spanish Civil War: A Military History of the Republic and International Brigades 1936–1939

The Peoples Army in the Spanish Civil War

The Peoples Army in the Spanish Civil War

A Military History of the Republic and International Brigades 19361939

Alexander Clifford

First published in Great Britain in 2020 by

Pen & Sword Military

An imprint of

Pen & Sword Books Ltd

Yorkshire Philadelphia

Copyright Alexander Clifford 2020

ISBN 978 1 52676 092 0

eISBN 978 1 52676 093 7

Mobi ISBN 978 1 52676 094 4

The right of Alexander Clifford to be identified as Author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

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First and foremost, this book would simply not have been written were it not for the passion and expertise of Dr Peter Anderson of Leeds University, who introduced me to the fascinating field of the Spanish Civil War as a wide-eyed first year. During the writing of the book, he was kind enough to provide vital advice, reassurance and encouragement at a time when I needed it most. The other person without whom the book could not have been written is my flatmate and friend Jos Del Pino, a talented linguist and teacher who has enabled me to access a huge range of texts in Spanish and spent countless hours translating old soldiers memoirs with me completely voluntarily (although sometimes bribed with takeaway pizza). I wish to thank my mother, my primary proofreader and cheerleader as always, and my father for his healthy scepticism and grounded thinking. My brother Freddy helped me with research in his field of expertise, firearms, and has written an excellent appendix on the topic for this volume. Ian Aird assisted me greatly in sourcing the images that illustrate the book and I wish to thank him for his kindness and readiness to help. My commissioning editor Rupert Harding and publisher Pen and Sword placed their trust in me and this project, and have shaped it into the engaging book it has become. In particular, Rupert has been a constant source of guidance and encouragement from the start as I entered the unfamiliar world of publishing and I wish to thank him for his efforts. My editor Linne Matthews has made this book distinctly more readable and has done a huge amount of work to help it reach publication, for which I am extremely thankful. Finally, my partner Risn has tolerated our room becoming a research office, my mind being in Spain and our flat being overrun with books; my sincere apologies.

The author and publisher gratefully acknowledge the permission granted to reproduce the copyright material in this book. I would like to thank the following for granting permission for quotations used: Edwin Mellen Press, United Writers Publications, University of Illinois Press, Hachette/Orion, Penguin-Random House Group, and Simon & Schuster. Every effort has been made to trace copyright holders and to obtain their permission for the use of copyright material, be they images or quotations. The publisher apologises for any errors or omissions in the above list and later credits, and would be grateful if notified of any corrections that should be incorporated in future reprints or editions of this book.

Most Spaniards have a given name and then two surnames, first the surname of their father, followed by the surname of their mother. It is common practice to refer to someone on most occasions using only their given name and first surname, as is the case in this book; for instance, Francisco Franco Bahamonde is referred to simply as Francisco Franco. The exception tends to be those who have exceedingly common paternal surnames, who then often have their maternal surnames given also. To provide an example from this work, the Republican General Juan Hernndez Saravia is always referred to with his full name, Juan Hernndez being a very common name in Spain.

From militia to Peoples Army the transformation of Republican forces from the badly organised militia bands of 1936 (1) to something approaching a regular army by summer 1937 (2).

3. Troops of the Peoples Armys 46th Division reviewed by (from left to right) Republican Prime Minister Juan Negrn, President Manuel Azaa, General Jos Miaja, Major Valentn Gonzlez (El Campesino), and Major Enrique Lster.

4. Chief of the General Staff of the Peoples Army Colonel (later General) Vicente Rojo, visiting the front.

5. Major Attlee Company, British Battalion. Named after the Labour Party leader, commander Sam Wild is in black crouched by the Maxim machine gun.

6. Tough Slavic volunteers of the Dimitrov Battalion.

7. Men of the Machine Gun Company of the Abraham Lincoln Battalion.

International Brigaders: Fred Copeman (8), Royal Navy mutineer and commander of the British Battalion at Brunete; Bill Alexander (9), industrial chemist and British Battalion commander at Teruel; Robert Merriman (10), Economics doctoral student and Chief of Staff of 15th International Brigade at Belchite; and Milton Wolff (11), machine gunner then Lincoln-Washington Battalion commander in 1938.

12. Ernest Hemingway (centre) conversing with officers of the German-Austrian 11th Thlmann International Brigade.

13. General Jos Miaja, Saviour of Madrid.

Nationalist commanders; the Caudillo and Generalssimo Francisco Franco (14) and General Jos Enrique Varela (seated) with staff (15).

16. & 17. Propaganda shots of the Nationalist armys advance on Madrid, autumn 1936.