Spanish Civil War

Articles about the Spanish Civil War and social revolution from 1936-1939 which was sparked by a military rising lead by right-wing General Franco.

The Foreign Legion of the Revolution

German CNT members in French detention camp, 1939

Dieter Nelles
"The Foreign Legion of the Revolution“[1]
German anarcho-syndicalist and Volunteers in Anarchist Militias during the Spanish Civil War

Borrell, Federico 1912-1936

Short biography of Spanish anarchist Federico Borrell, made famous by the iconic photo The Fallen Soldier by Robert Capa.

Federico Borrell Garcia was born in Benilloba in Alicante, Spain on April 3 1912.

The son of Vicente Borrell and Maria Garcia, he was one of a large family with 3 brothers and 2 sisters, who lived in poverty-stricken conditions.

Estorach, Soledad

A short biography of Soledad Estorach, one of the most dynamic founders and activists of Mujeres Libres.

Soledad Estorach Esteri was born on the 6th February 1915 at the small village of Albatarrech near Lerida.

Silva Cruz, Maria, 1915-1936

Maria Silva Cruz

A short biography of the iconic figure of Maria Silva Cruz, "La Libertaria," heroine of the Casas Viejas uprising, murdered by the Francoists.

Maria was born into a family of day labourers and charcoal burners in the impoverished village of Casas Viejas in Andalucia on 20 April 1915.

Her father Juan Silva Gonzalez and her uncle Jeronimo were in the CNT. Her grandmother read anarchist novels out loud to her as a young girl.

International Volunteers in the POUM Militias

Poum international volunteers

Written by Andy Durgan, historical consultant for the Ken Loach film Land and Freedom, the article also contains a list of international volunteers in the POUM militia.

FUNDACIÓN ANDREU NIN

International Volunteers in the POUM Militias
Andy Durgan

Up to 700 foreigners fought with the 10.000 or so militia organised by the Partido Obrero de Unificación Marxista (POUM) between July 1936 and June 1937 (1). They were from at least 28 different countries; French, Italian and, above all German fighters being the most numerous (2).

Texidor, Greville, 1902- 1964 and Werner Droescher 1911-1978

Werner Droescher

Short biographies of Greville Texidor and Werner Droescher who both fought with the Spanish anarchist militias.

Greville Texidor was born in 1902 at Wolverhampton, the daughter of William Arthur Foster and Editha Greville Prideaux. Her father, a barrister, committed suicide in 1920 due to a scandal. Her mother was an artist who had originally moved from Auckland in New Zealand to study art in London in 1895.

Salamé Miro, José, 1920-2007

A short biography of José Salamé Miro, militant of Spanish origin active in France and the Spanish Revolution.

José Salamé Miro was born in the small village of Vinebra in the Catalan province of Tarragona. His childhood was spent in Barcelona. His father was a saddler and sympathetic to the CNT, attending the libertarian ateneo of the neighbourhood. Jose was a choir boy as a child, but as he grew he started moving towards anarchist ideas. He became a member of the CNT and the Libertarian Youth (FIJL).

Götze, Ferdinand 'Nante', 1907-1985

A short biography of German anarcho-syndicalist, Ferdinand Götze, who was also active in Sweden and Spain.

Ferdinand Götze was born in Leipzig on March 28th, 1907, the son of the FAUD stalwart Anna Götze.

On the uselessness of heroes

Charles Reeves reviews "Los Incontrolados, Chronicles of the Iron Column", a book about the famous Spanish anarchist militia and its activities in the Civil War.

On the Uselessness of Heroes
Charles Reeve
(Le Monde Libertaire, February 6-12, 2002)

Self management and the Spanish revolution - Point Blank

Point Blank!

An article by Situationist journal Point Blank on the militias and workers' councils during the Spanish Revolution.

Self-Management and the Spanish Revolution

1936 ~ 37

I

Syndicate content