“...and that government of the people, by the people, and for the people, shall not perish from the earth.” ABRAHAM LINCOLN TheThe VVolunteerolunteer JOURNAL OF THE VETERANS OF THE ABRAHAM LINCOLN BRIGADE

Vol. XXV, No. 1 March 2003

Vet Coleman Persilly converses with Angela Davis, the keynote speaker at the Vet’s San Francisco Bay Area Reunion, page 3. Photo by Richard Bermack we can best resist the U.S. government’s bid for global domination. On conclusion, this Lincoln Veteran of so Letters many historic struggles received a standing ovation. Keith Danner To the Editor, Lecturer, English Department Lincoln Brigade Veteran Abe Osheroff spoke at the UC/Riverside University of California under the sponsorship of the Center for Ideas and Society in Riverside, California on Dear Editor, November 19. Osheroff showed his film about the During and after last year’s reunion, four young Spanish Civil War—Dreams and Nightmares–gave a talk German anti-fascists met and interviewed some of the entitled “War without End?” and participated in a lively U.S. veterans. They are involved in a progressive history discussion with the audience of some 200 University and project in Germany and have been working on a docu- community members. mentary following Harry Fisher’s 2001 book tour across The audience was fascinated by Osheroff’s experi- their country. ence in the Lincoln Brigade and glad to have the The filmmakers Frank Dittmeyer and Jörg Briese opportunity to discuss the legacy of the Spanish Civil along with Ulrich Kolbe are planning to return to New War. But it also seemed that many people were equally York in April and would truly appreciate an opportunity moved by Osheroff’s exhortations—to young people in to continue their efforts and preserve more personal sto- particular—to commit themselves to lives that derive ries and experiences for generations to come. their meaning from something other than the accumula- Anyone interested in helping them with their project tion of wealth. His hopeful message that the and willing to give interviews, please contact the vets combination of passion and hard work can bring a satis- office or e-mail the German friends at fying life was well received. Several students that this [email protected] writer talked to after the presentation were inspired and Thank you very much! came away with a more hopeful vision of the future. Salud from Germany, At the same time, Osheroff minced no words when it Ulrich Kolbe came to the Bush administration’s current war drive, Bergstr. 10, D-06502 Weddersleben, Germany which he called an act of “criminal insanity.” www.consulteng.de Complementing this were the eerily appropriate last words of Osheroff’s award winning film: “In Spain we Letters Continued on page 19 had a chance to stop a war before it started. I don’t know if it’s possible, but shouldn’t we be able to tell our chil- dren we tried, we really tried?” In the discussion that followed, Osheroff noted that 5,000 children die every The Volunteer month in Iraq because of U.S. led sanctions. Anti-war Journal of the sentiment ran high in the room. Veterans of the The film, Osheroff’s presentation, and the discussion Abraham Lincoln Brigade left audience members considering what a life of activism an ALBA publication might mean for them, and how, in this current context, 799 Broadway, Rm. 227 New York, NY 10003 (212) 674-5398 Bill Susman 1915-2003 Editorial Board ALBA mourns the loss of its founder and Peter Carroll • Leonard Levenson inspirational leader, Bill Susman, who died on Gina Herrmann • Fraser Ottanelli • Abe February 21 in Sarasota, Florida. We will publish an Smorodin extended article about Bill in our next issue. Design Production For now, we remember how well Bill could Richard Bermack motivate a meeting, delight in singing Spanish Civil War songs off key, and dream the dream that this Editorial Assistance earth would be inhabited by free people. His legacy Carla Healy-London to us includes the challenge to carry on in that spirit. Submission of Manuscripts —ALBA Board of Governors. Please send manuscripts by E-mail or on disk. E-mail: [email protected]

2 THE VOLUNTEER March 2003 Angela Davis, SF Mime Troupe Stir Bay Area Reunion

There’s an axis of evil in the year 2003, It runs from Houston to Miami up to Washington, DC

“Which Side Are You On” with an added verse by musical director Bruce Barthol: There’s an axis of evil in the Roby Newman accepts a plaque hon- year 2003, oring Oliver Law. Newman’s father It runs from Houston to served under Law. Miami up to Washington, DC By Peter Carroll Post commander David Smith photos by Richard Bermack led the 11 vets onto the stage, and ith war clouds gathering in nearly all expressed feelings of out- the air, 600 friends, associ- rage at the impending war in Iraq. Wates and 11 Bay Area vets Nate Thornton earned an extra found inspiration for antiwar protest round of applause by reminding the and resistance from speaker Angela cheering crowd that never before Davis and the songs of the San had so many demonstrated in the Francisco Mime Troupe at the 66th streets against a war before it had anniversary reunion at Calvin begun. Simmons Theater in Oakland on On behalf of the Post, Smith February 23. saluted his commander in Spain, Angela Davis repeats the words of The musical troupe started the Oliver Law, the first African Dolores Ibarruri, “You are history. ceremonies with a rendition of You are legend.” Continued on page 21

THE VOLUNTEER March 2003 3 ists in photography, historians, and archivists: “Photography and News Briefs Photojournalism during the Spanish War” on March 26 and 65th Anniversary at the Ebro California/San Diego and long time “Remembering the Spanish Civil July 1938 marked the beginning ALBA Board member, has received War: Myths, Issues and of the Battle of the Ebro, an all-out the Antonio de Nebrija Prize valued Transmission” on March 31 at the attempt by the Spanish Republic to at 24,000 euros for his outstanding Invalides Museum. avert defeat and gain more time for contributions to the study of Spanish Two catalogues will also be the anti-fascist forces of the world. culture. released in French: The International The small town of Corbera became Jackson’s book, The Spanish Brigades: Newly Discovered Images by an important hub because of a huge Republic and the Civil War, 1936-1939, Michel Lefebvre and Rémi natural cave that served as the major published by Princeton University Skoutelsky (Paris: Editions du Seuil) hospital for the wounded. It was also Press in 1963, won the American and The War in Spain: A Flood of Fire a transportation center. The current Historical Association’s Herbert and Images by François Fontaine Mayor of Corbera invites all mem- Baxter Adams Prize and has set a bers of the International Brigade, standard for Spanish Civil War their families and friends to celebrate scholarship. Reconciliation the 65th anniversary of that battle for Ignacio Berdujo, Rector of the the weekend of July 4, 2003. It will University of Salamanca and presi- After the War probably be our last hurrah in Spain! dent of the jury that voted the ALBA & VALB invite you to join us award, said, “Professor Jackson has VALB Marches for Peace for an Evening of Film & marked out for several generations Discussion The February 15 peace demon- of Spaniards an entry point to the stration that drew over 200,000 knowledge of a fundamental period Friday, April 25 at 6:15pm people in New York City included a of our recent history.” Death in El Valle group of Lincoln veterans. As part of Jackson, who lives in Barcelona, (CM Hardt, USA, 1996) the Veterans Against the War in Iraq expressed appreciation “for the In Spanish and English with and for Constitutional Liberties, recognition of my work as a subtitles. A young American which includes Vietnam Veterans humanist.” woman travels to her family’s Against the War and Veterans for village in Spain to solve the Peace, Lincoln vets Harry Fisher, Paris Photo Exhibit Opens mystery of her grandfather’s 1949 Moe Fishman, and Matti Mattson In Paris, the Library of murder. marched with the VALB banner from Contemporary International Remarks by H.E. Emilio the New York Public Library to the Documentation and the Museum of Cassinello, New York Consul meeting place at 49th Street and First Contemporary History are hosting General of Spain. Followed by Avenue. The huge gathering an exhibition of photographs titled: Q&A with filmmaker CM Hardt. demanded that the U.S. stop the war “No Pasarán: Images of the NYU’s King Juan Carlos I Center plans against Iraq. International Brigades in the Spanish 53 Washington Square South In San Francisco, vets David Civil War” from March 27- June 14. Smith and Nate Thorton, backed by The unique collection of pho- family, friends, and VALB Associates tographs from archives, libraries and joined strong peace demonstrations photo agencies as well as from pri- (Paris-Nanterre: Editions Berg that numbered above 100,000 on vate collections around the world is International/ BDIC). February 16. curated by François Fontaine, histori- After Paris, the exhibit will travel —Moe Fishman an of photography and Rémi to Madrid from July 15-September 20 Skoutelsky, author of the history of and then to Barcelona, from October Gabriel Jackson Honored in the French IB contingent: L’Espoir to January 7, 2004. Spain guidait leurs pas. Historian Gabriel Jackson, emeri- The opening includes two round Film Screening: Into the Fire tus professor of the University of table conferences featuring special- On Thursday April 3, Julia Newman’s documentary film, Into Due to a typographical error in The Volunteer (December 2002, p. 13), a the Fire (2002), will be screened at sentence in the letter from Claude Bowers to FDR, April 18, 1938, should NYU’s King Juan Carlos I Center, 53 have read: “The one way to bring this criminal war to an end is to restore Washington Square South, at 6:15 to the legal, constitutional, democratic government of the Spanish people p.m. Julia will be introducing the its right under international law to buy arms for its defense.” film.

4 THE VOLUNTEER March 2003 UNTHECOVERINGTRUTH By Mary Kay McCoy Last November 20, the 27th the political attitude of such individ- ewly unearthed documents anniversary of Franco’s death, uals was very low. and oral testimonies are Aznar’s conservative government His theories, published in mili- Nrevealing horrifying evidence backed the parliamentary opposition tary medical journals, had grave of Franco’s repression. In Spain, the motion condemning Franco’s dicta- consequences on prison life during silence has been shattered, forcing torship and promised support and Franco’s dictatorship. Because the the country to confront its past. economic aid to locate the graves opponent was believed to be subnor- During the long years of dicta- and rebury the dead. Though moral mal and psychotic, the only thing to torship, fear had cast its shadow over recognition is a first step, Emilio do was to isolate him. The peniten- the government’s violation of human Silva, co-founder of the ARMH, says tiary system was one of the best rights. That fear, sustained through he awaits a formal plan implicating mechanisms to carry out this propos- Franco’s machinery to humiliate, tor- the program. “A simple declaration al. Men were separated from the ture, oppress, and exterminate, of intentions is not enough,” he women to make reproduction impos- molded the people in silence. After declares. Expectations declined three sible; children were separated from Franco’s death an “unwritten pact of weeks later when Aznar´s Popular their parents to make the transmis- amnesia” orchestrated by the Party vetoed the socialist’s proposal sion of “defects” impossible. On the Transition let another 25 years slip to invest 7 million euros in the recov- basis of these theories, Franco con- away in the belief that it was better ery of Spain’s missing. structed his machinery of repression. to forget in order to move forwards. Those who survived Franco’s fir- The objective was “to multiply the But today the silence is over. Even ing squads have much to say about select and leave the ‘weak’ to die”- though many are still afraid to talk the dictator’s machinery of repres- the weak meaning the “reds,” of and others prefer silence to the pain sion. Franco’s declared aim, no course. of remembering, there are significant longer a hidden secret, was the exter- Juana Dona, today in her mid- numbers of victims courageous mination of the “reds”; his method eighties, spent 20 years in Franco’s enough to share their stories so that was terror. prisons. “The repression under the truth will be known. In the summer of 1938, Antonio Franco was terrible, very criminal, The Association for the Recovery Vallejo Nágera, Chief Psychiatrist of very cruel...like what we see in the of Historic Memory (ARMH), one of Franco’s army, obtained Franco’s movies about Hitler. The same. We the principle catalysts in breaking consent to create the “Bureau for weren’t thrown into crematories but the silence, continues to recover the Psychological Research.” After carry- the people died in the jails and in the remains of the “missing” that lie in ing out bizarre experiments on concentration camps; they died of unmarked graves throughout Spain, prisoners, Vallejo Nágera reached hunger and filth, from a lack of vita- to restore the names and dignity of the conclusion that the political dissi- mins, from parasites, they died from victims and to commemorate their dent was socially and mentally all the cruelities known to man. struggle for liberty and democracy. inferior as well as potentially dan- What happened to us was a holo- There have been 21 excavations and gerous due to his intrinsic evil. caust and the people don’t know 54 bodies recovered so far. Among the prisoners tested were 72 about it yet.” Undoubtedly the most famous Lincoln Brigaders who were Vallejo Nágera’s theories provid- case of enforced disappearance is detained in the prison camp at San ed Franco with a pseudo-philosophy that of poet Federico Garcia Lorca. In Pedro de Cardeña, near Burgos. that would justify and protect the a recent documentary shown on Those still alive today remember regime’s acts, institutions and segre- Spanish television titled Lorca and the having their heads and noses mea- gation policies. Franco and his ‘paseados’ of Viznar, Ian Gibson, the sured, answering hundreds of supporters could live in peace with poet’s biographer, insists that it is questions, especially about their sex clear consciences. Spain’s duty to find Lorca’s remains. lives, and recall being photographed. It was historian Ricard Vinyes “It’s a disgrace this hasn’t been done The psychiatrist concluded that the who recently unearthed the medical yet,” he adds. probability of obtaining a change in Continued on page 6

THE VOLUNTEER March 2003 5 low prisoners in Mauthausen, is what THE TRUTH has brought García Barón back to his Continued from page 5 village in Huesca 65 years after leav- ing to join the Durruti Column and journals with Vallejo Nágera’s theo- Ricard Vinyes also unearthed fight fascism during the Spanish war. ries. He was studying the documents from the Falangist Captured in France by the Nazis, confinement of women during Foreign Service where he discovered García Barón survived five years in Franco’s dictatorship when he came the plan to repatriate children who Mauthausen where he saw hundreds across files with the words destaca- had been evacuated to foreign coun- of thousands of comrades die. In mento hospicio (detachment hospice) tries during the war in order to 1944, as the war grew more compli- written in pencil. These would lead reintegrate them into the new cated for the Germans, the him on a search where he would dis- Nationalist Spain. When obstacles commandant at Mauthausen singled cover evidence never revealed before were encountered with their adopted out García Barón to be the bearer of about Franco’s repression. families, children were virtually secrets of the SS. He was led to the His findings appear in the abducted by falangist agents. The undergrounds of the camp and heartwrenching documentary, Los majority of these children’s parents shown bottles that stored the ashes niños perdidos del franquismo, (The had been executed or caused to dis- of the four and a half million bodies Lost Children of Franco) made for appear, while others were confined cremated in the ovens. When he Catalan television’s 30 minuts, by in concentration camps, not only in asked how many of them were reporters Montse Armengou and Spain where there were nearly 100 Spaniards, he was told over one hun- Ricard Belis. They talked with many camps, but also in Auschwitz, dred thousand. of the women survivors who shared grim stories about their children— children who had accompanied their If the parents were still alive, the children were mothers to prison or who were born behind bars. They also interviewed often not returned to them since the parents were some of the surviving children. Prison conditions were subhu- considered “incapable” of their education. man. Hundreds of infants died of tuberculosis, meningitis, cold or star- vation. But death was not the only way a mother could lose her child. Mathausen, and Dachau. If the par- Responsible for this crime against In March 1940, Franco’s Ministry ents were still alive, the children humanity is Serrano Suñer, Franco’s of Justice passed an order establish- were often not returned to them brother-in-law and Foreign Minister, ing the separation of children from since the parents were considered who sought out the help of the Nazis their mothers after the age of three. “incapable” of their education. to exterminate the Spanish enemies Children were literally torn from In 1942, according to Vinyes, that had been detained in exile. their mother’s arms and sent to hos- there were 9,050 children under State Today, over 100 years old, Serrano pices and religious schools, tutelage; in 1943 the number rose to Suñer lies peacefully in his bed. institutions created by Franco with 12,042; during the next two years García Barón has petitioned the the intention of isolating them from that number would increase to thou- Spanish government to review republican environments and re- sands more. These are the “lost Franco’s responsibility in the crimes educating them to hate the ideas of children,” lost because they were of Nazi Germany. their parents and embrace those of deprived of the education their par- Meanwhile, a recent avalanche the falangist and Catholic New State. ents would have given them, lost of excellent books, exhibits and other The order would cause numerous because they had been separated events in Spain illuminate other cases of separations and disappear- from their families for long periods aspects of Franco’s dictatorship—the ances of children from their real of time, if not forever. exile, work batallions, and the role of parents. The documentary about the lost the Catholic Church. The magnitude Then, in December 1941, a new children created great social impact. of Franco’s terror can no longer be law was passed allowing the chang- Spaniards were horrified with the silenced. Memories do not dissolve ing of names of these children. This revelations. with time. Memories become history, would impede parents, if they sur- Just as shocking is the recent testi- for memories are history. vived prison terms, from finding mony of Antonio García Barón. “If their children and would also facili- one of us gets out of here alive, he Mary Kay McCoy is a translator living in tate hundreds of irregular must tell it all, the world has to Madrid. adoptions. know.” That promise, made with fel-

6 THE VOLUNTEER March 2003 Children’s Drawings Opens at Dartmouth

Give War Stories to Children?” Additionally the Museum is making arrangements with an art therapist to speak on the subject in relation to these drawings. Introductory tours of the show are offered on the following hey Still Draw Pictures: Saturdays at 2 PM: April 19, May 10 Children’s Art in Wartime from and 24. Diego, in September 2002 and in T the Spanish Civil War to Kosovo, They Still Draw Pictures brings January traveled to Lehigh ALBA’s latest traveling art exhibi- together 77 drawings done by University, Bethlehem, tion, will open at Dartmouth Spanish children during the Spanish Pennsylvania. After Dartmouth it College’s Hood Museum from April Civil War with 22 works of art by will move to Southern Illinois 5-June 15, 2003. The Hood has orga- children from more recent conflicts. University in Carbondale and to the nized a series of activities around the The Spanish journalist Ana Tenorio AXA Gallery in midtown Manhattan show, including a talk by co-curator wrote of the show: “This exhibition in February 2004. For further infor- and ALBA board member Tony brings to light an important and vir- mation about the exhibition schedule Geist. On Saturday, April 12 at 4 PM tually unknown record of the or to bring it to a location near you Geist will give a lecture titled Spanish Civil War; it also presents see the ALBA web page: www.alba- “Children of War: Drawings from the most terrible and the most noble valb.org. For a detailed schedule of Spanish Civil War Refugee Camps” expressions of the human spirit, events at Dartmouth College go to: in Loew Auditorium. A reception capable of the greatest atrocities but http://www.dartmouth.edu/~hood will follow. also of creating beauty in conditions /special-exhibitions.html. On April 26, Jennifer Armstrong, of overwhelming adversity.” The author of books for children and young artists’ young adults, will lecture on “Why wrenching depic- tions of their experiences stand as a powerful statement against war and are par- ticularly relevant at this moment, as we lurch toward military intervention in Iraq. The exhibi- tion opened at the University of California, San

THE VOLUNTEER March 2003 7 Hank Rubin: Wine and Food Maven By Jeannette Ferrary

et Hank Rubin has always been a busy guy, but lately Vhe’s been showing up in unex- pected places. At 86, the author of Spain’s Cause Was Mine is back in print; he’s the star of a feature article in the latest issue of Gastronomica (Fall 2002), a University of California Press publication about food and cul- ture. He has also produced his second book, Kitchen Answer Book (Capital Books, 562 pp., $22.95). Hank has a unique and impor- tant place in America’s culinary history. With the restaurant he opened in Berkeley, California, in the 1960s, called The Pot Luck, he began a revolution at the table that empha- sized the importance of fresh, local ingredients, organic produce, and sustainable agriculture. As one food editor put it, we all owe a debt of gratitude to “the man and the restau- rant that helped bring the idea of good food and wine out of the classi- cal closet into the contemporary light of our culinary times.” The Pot Luck was a pioneer in many ways besides exploring a world of ethnic cuisines and intro- ducing less familiar flavor combinations to its appreciative cus- tomers. It began the institution called the “bottomless bowl” refill, a prac- tice beloved by college students with limited food budgets, especially because the accompaniment was some of the best fresh sourdough baguettes then available. Rubin also wrote a weekly wine mat—there are approximately 5,000 Another innovation was a column for the San Francisco questions answered within! The Monday Night prix fixe dinner of Chronicle from 1965-1985, the first book is a handy, comprehensive ref- inventive dishes and wonderful regular column in a metropolitan erence work on foods, cooking wines which Alice Waters, the daily newspaper in the country. techniques, and general kitchen founder of Chez Panisse and the Another of his wine columns, “Wine knowledge. It resulted from a decade grande dame of California cuisine Press” ran for 23 years in Bon of experience with students as volun- praised: “For years it was really the Appetit, and he also hosted a weekly teer cooking instructor at a San only place in Berkeley to eat.” radio show, “Lines About Wine, “ on Francisco vocational school, work The Pot Luck was also the first Pacifica’s KPFA. that Hank Rubin continues to do. restaurant in the San Francisco Bay Last month saw the publication Jeannette Ferrary is the author of six Area to hire African Americans as of Rubin’s Kitchen Answer Book, a cookbooks and M. F. K Fisher and Me: waiters and urge its employees to 560-page tome about food and its a Memoir of Food and Friendship. join unions. preparation. Written in a Q & A for-

8 THE VOLUNTEER March 2003 you could not have been a member of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade, From the Archives stop this nonsense and sign the form. I said if this is such nonsense why By Michael Nash active in the anti-war movement and are you asking this question to 22 s the new head of the could not see myself serving as a sol- years olds in 1968? His whole man- Tamiment Library at New dier in Vietnam, participating in what I ner changed. He said you are either AYork University responsible considered to be an imperialist war. crazy or a subversive. I was told that for the Abraham Lincoln Brigade However, I was not overly con- if I did not fill in the blank certifying Archives, I was looking through the cerned as I had flat feet, a bad back, that I had never been a member of portion of the collection document- and was assured by my orthopedist the Abraham Lincoln Brigade, I ing the volunteers’ experiences that I would never be drafted. Much could not be drafted. I said to myself, during the Second World War. A to my surprise, despite a doctor’s wow, this is a way out. Telling the particularly poignant box of letters note and accompanying x-rays, I was officer that on principle I would not labeled “World War II Discrimin- told that I had passed the physical. I certify that I had never been an ation against Veterans” describes now found myself filling out the loy- Abraham Lincoln Brigade member, I more than 500 cases of Abraham alty oath questionnaire. Pondering was informed that my fingerprints Lincoln Brigade veterans being kept the then standard question “are you were being sent to the FBI with a out of combat, or after completing now or have you ever been a member memorandum stating that I was a officer training school, being denied of any of the following organizations,” potential subversive. Biting my lip as commissions. Ironically, many of I was stunned to see the Abraham hard as I could to suppress the these Abraham Lincoln Brigade vet- Lincoln Brigade on the list. Laughing laughter, I skipped out of the office erans were assigned to headquarters out loud, I shouted that this could not quite believing what had hap- units with known fascists who were not be serious. No one in this room, pened, but immensely grateful that also deemed to be security risks and and nobody who was young enough the Abraham Lincoln Brigade had ineligible for assignment to combat to be subject to the draft at that time, saved me from Vietnam. units. After a number of congress- could have possibly been alive dur- Clearly, the Second World War men petitioned the War Department ing the Spanish Civil War. was different from Vietnam. The real and the famous syndicated colum- I left this question blank, signed Abraham Lincoln Brigade veterans, nist Drew Pearson exposed the the loyalty oath and raised my hand. who had risked their lives fighting situation, things began to change. With a mischievous grin, I asked the fascism in Spain, wanted to con- Beginning in the summer of 1943, young soldier who was in charge of tribute to the fight against Nazi Abraham Lincoln Brigade veterans the room if this question was a seri- Germany and Japan. The fact that were assigned to combat units and ous one. He said, kid, sit down and their so-called premature anti-fas- became eligible for promotion to the sign, but I persisted to try to explain cism often stood in the way was both officer corps. why I thought this was a ridiculous frustrating and wrong. This genera- This story made me recall my question. He then began to threaten tion of young warriors wanted own experience with the Selective me, saying that if I did not shut up, nothing more than to fight for their Service in 1968 during the Vietnam he would label me as a subversive country, but many of them had to War. In September 1968 when I was and send me next door to speak to a wait for more than a year and a half a first year graduate student at security officer. When I continued to after Pearl Harbor to get a chance to Columbia University, I received noti- argue, this is exactly what happened. go to war against Hitler. For the War fication to report for a physical at the After waiting on a bench for Department, membership in the Whitehall Street Selective Service nearly two hours, I was ushered into Abraham Lincoln Brigade made Center in lower Manhattan. Like a room labeled “security screenings,” them subversives and untrustworthy many of my generation I had been where I met with a young second at the front. This perverse logic was lieutenant. He was pleasant enough best expressed by Congressman Carl The ALBA Listserv at first asking me about graduate Curtis of Nebraska. Referring to Staff school, but then he began question- Sergeant Irving Goff, an Abraham Readers of the Volunteer are ing me about the Abraham Lincoln Lincoln Brigade veteran who had invited to continue the debate on Brigade. He clearly had never heard been decorated for his brave service, the ALBA sponsored Internet of it so he asked me to tell him what Curtis asserted that: “This is in line Discussion List. To become a mem- it was and I launched into a ten- with the Communist policy of win- ber simply send a blank e-mail minute speech about the ning the confidence and standing for message to the address: join- international brigades and the future exploitation.” [email protected] or go to the Spanish Civil War. He soon stopped ALBAwebsite www.alba-valb.org Michael Nash is Head of Tamiment me and said you were born in 1946 and click on the “Dialog” button. Library, New York University

THE VOLUNTEER March 2003 9 A Return to Spain By Len Levenson, with Bob Coale fter attending several IB anniversary celebrations, Arecent widowerhood impelled a decision for a personal return to Spain. Enlisting the talents of my co- author, I headed off to Spain for a two-week retracing of my wartime experiences more than 60 years ago. It began with a warm, official and personal reception by the “Amigos” in Madrid. This was fol- lowed by a return to the training grounds of La Mancha, where my soldier’s life began. There, hosted by Manuel Requena, contemporary his- tory professor at the University of Castilla-La Mancha, Bob and I spent some time in Albacete. The visit included a guided tour of the Len Levenson in Vilella Alta with two generations of the Paramon family. Amigos-sponsored IB Documentation Center in the impres- story, let alone heard first hand tales Ebro in July 1938. Sixty-four years sive regional archive building. of the IBs. later, we were met by several genera- Professor Requena taped an inter- We hit the road the next day, tions of the Paramon family and view for the University. We also arriving first at Quinto where we escorted to the family home. I was visited important IB sites in located the church, still in its wartime impressed by the modernization of Pozoblanco and Madrigueras. condition, where a critical battalion town and countryside and the eco- The first high point was a visit to meeting was held with Commissar nomic prosperity of this wine and the Mac Pap training base of Joe Dallet who was killed the follow- olive producing region. Tarazona de la Mancha. Our arrival ing morning when he went over the A surprising discovery upon coincided with a national general top at Fuentes de Ebro. entering the house was that the fami- strike. We were hosted by the señora Our route then led to the Ebro ly tractor occupied the exact location assistant mayor and several strikers. battlefields of Corbera and Gandesa. where in 1938 the burro lived. My After exchanging recollections, we At the former we were warmly comment, translated into Spanish, toured the town with trade unionists received by the mayor, Jose Luis brought laughter from our hosts. and farmers who remembered the Gamero Gamazo. Remains of the old After looking through family pho- Internationals from the war. town, destroyed during the battle tographs, I was able to identify the More than 60 years earlier, a and liberated on July 25 by the Mac “madre” of decades ago. When I had wound received in Teruel sent me to Paps, have been preserved as a shared the room with Ben, the par- the hospital. This fact made peacetime monument. We also visit- ents lived alone. It was not until this Benicassim our next stop. There, ed the construction site of the visit that I discovered their son was Guillermo Casañ, teacher and local planned Ebro Battle Museum. then away at officers’ training historian of the IB Sanidad, led us on Following the trek to the battle- school. He survived both the war a guided tour of the remaining villas, field side of the Ebro river, we and postwar concentration camps including the site of the Paul crossed to the eastern shore for a and was happy to meet us. Robeson concert in late January 1938. moving return to Vilella Alta. There, An advantage of this trip over The next day we were guests of the with the assistance of Mayor previous organized anniversaries, Casañ family for a paella lunch in the Gamero, we tracked down the was that I was able to get into the country. They enthusiastically drilled Paramon family who hosted myself countryside. Wind-generated power me with questions on the war. As 30 and Ben Sills, Company One com- lines now straddle the mountains and 40 year-old Spaniards, schooled missar of the Special Machine Gun and valleys of Catalonia, providing under fascism, they had never Battalion. This town was where the Continued on page 18 learned the full loyalist side of the Battalion trained for recrossing the 10 THE VOLUNTEER March 2003 Spanish Vet Found as Canadian War Hero By William Carrick and Bob Steck

he anti-fascist Spanish war did not end in 1939, it continued Tinto World War II and after. Too many of our young countrymen do not know the real stories of the U.S. volunteers who defended democracy. Some volunteers remain faceless and forgotten. Carl Geiser dedicated his Prisoners of the Good Fight “to the memory of the International Brigadiers who were captured, both those who were killed and the sur- were comrades in the fight against mand of General Eisenhower. vivors. May the courage they fascism in Spain.” She asked several The Canadians arrived on July 9, displayed and the suffering they questions about the conflict and Bob 1943 as part of the invasion armada endured serve to inform and told her “Another veteran is writing of nearly 3,000 Allied ships and land- strengthen all who are striving for a a book about our experiences and we ing craft. Some 180,000 American, peaceful and more just world.” want to interview Joe.” She smiled, British, and Canadian soldiers with Carl has a real appreciation and “I knew there was something special 15,000 vehicles including 600 tanks instinct for the art of participatory about Joseph. I like talking with and 1,800 guns landed on the island democratic involvement. This was him.” Bob continued to search, but of Sicily. When the Royal Canadian reflected in his pursuit of input from after much effort and coming very Regiment waded ashore, it was in Franco’s American POWs. As part close, he was unsuccessful because bright daylight. Their objective of this effort, he asked Bob Steck to Joe had no permanent home. was the airfield at Pachino, which search for Joseph Grigas in Last year, Bob heard from Bill was defended by a heavily armed Worcester, Massachusetts. Carrick, who is a volunteer Long garrison. Joe, born in 1915, was raised in Term Care Ombudsman. He had met The following information was Worcester. He never settled down Joe at a nursing home in Worcester, provided by Captain Duncan and he has no family. He attended and they became friends. Joe has McMillan, Regimental Adjutant at two years of high school in since been able to share his recollec- the Royal Canadian Regiment: Worcester, and served in the U.S. tions of Spain with Bob Steck and CITATION Army from 1933 to 1935 attached to Carl Geiser, and contacts have been “On 10 July 43 in vicinity of the 14th infantry at Fort Davis in the made with Joe Young, Dave Smith, PACHINO Airfield “A” Company of Panama Canal Zone. Abe Osheroff, Max Shufer, Moe the Royal Canadian Regiment of But Joe was not listed in the Fishman and Jules Paivio. which Private Grigas was a soldier phone book, so Bob went to the After his service in Spain, Joe was operating against enemy coastal Social Security office. “We don’t didn’t wait for US entry into World defenses. At 1000 hours the have an address for Joseph, so he War II. He enlisted in the Canadian Company commenced an assault on picks up his checks here.” “When Army in May 1940 and was assigned a coast defense battery immediately does he pick them up?” Bob asked to the Royal Canadian Regiment. The north of Pachino Airfield. Grigas’ the pleasant woman. “No fixed regiment participated in the invasion Section Commander became a casu- time. He comes when he chooses. of Italy, as part of a joint British and alty. Private Grigas took command What’s your interest in Joe?” “We American operation under the com- Continued on page 20

THE VOLUNTEER March 2003 11 AALLBBAA’’ss NNeeww PPllaannnneedd GGiivviinngg PPrrooggrraamm Tax Advantages for Gift Annuities HOW DOES A You can also choose a one-life or two-life (two people dividing the CHARITABLE GIFT income) annuity. Cash gifts ANNUITY WORK? allow maximum tax-free income; A charitable gift annuity is a gifts of securities allow you to simple contract between you and minimize capital gains taxes. the Abraham Lincoln Brigade Archives (ALBA). Under this DEFERRING PAYMENTS arrangement, you make a gift of cash or marketable securities, If you are under 60 years of worth a minimum of $5000, to age, you can still set up an annuity ALBA. In return, ALBA will pay and defer the payments until any you (or up to two individuals) an date after your 60th birthday. This annuity beginning on the date you gives you an immediate tax- specify, on or after your sixtieth deduction for your gift while still (60th) birthday. guaranteeing you income pay- ments in the future. Because you are deferring payments, your WHAT ARE THE annuity payments will be larger ADVANTAGES OF A than if you had waited to set up CHARITABLE GIFT the annuity until your 60th birth- day. ANNUITY? For more information on a A charitable gift annuity has customized proposal for your four distinct advantages: Charitable Gift Annuity, please ALBA’s planned giving pro- Income for Life at attractive pay- contact: gram provides an extraordinary out rates. Julia Newman way to make a gift, increase Tax Deduction Savings – A large ALBA-Room 227 income and slice the donor’s tax part of what you give is a 799 Broadway bill – all in one transaction! deductible charitable gift. NY, NY 10003 The charitable gift annuity Tax-Free Income – A large part of Ph. (212) 674-5398 program was created for our many your annual payments is tax-free friends who have expressed a return of principal. desire to make a significant gift, Capital Gains Tax Savings – while still retaining income from When you contribute securities for the principal during their lifetime. a gift annuity, you minimize any A charitable gift annuity gives the taxes on your “paper profit.” So donor additional retirement gifts of securities save twice! income, while affording the satis- faction of supporting ALBA’s PAYMENTS continuing educational programs and its traditions of fighting for You choose how frequently social justice and against fascism. payments will be made – quarter- ly, semi-annually or annually.

12 THE VOLUNTEER March 2003 Comments on Colonel Copic’s Diary and the April 5th Action By David Smith that the British who were stationed to our right had already returned to ohn Kraljic writes in the their trenches. Later on I learned that September 2002 issue of The both Jock Cunningham and Frank JVolunteer, “One can hypothesize Ryan ordered only a token gesture to that Copic wrote the diary…to justify test the enemy. Yet as more informa- his actions, and to point his finger at tion came through during the others for various military failures.” following days and weeks, we Copic writes of the February 27th learned that the 24th Spanish attack, “It is supposed to begin at 10 Battalion, after going over the para- a.m.” under the orders of General pets withdrew from the battlefield. Gal. BUT THAT IS BROAD DAY- And the Dimitrov Commander did LIGHT!!! Omitted from the diary is not respect the “attack” order. any mention of why the attack was It seemed to me that the Lincolns ordered without any basic support at who were at the front from early hand. Nor is there any mention of a February and took part in the skir- discussion between Copic and British mishes and the Feb 23rd action just commander, Jock Cunningham or went through the “gesture” on the Frank Ryan of the Irish. The violent 27th, while the new Lincolns suf- disagreements of Merriman, the fered tremendous casualties. Art Lincoln Battalion Commander, were Landis’ book, The Abraham Lincoln not even mentioned. Copic refused Brigade, pages 71-90 covers the action to listen to any reasoning that ques- in detail. Professor Robert Colodney, tioned the orders that he had also a Lincoln Vet said, “a careful received from General Gal. reconnaissance would have shown “Morale among Americans to be I arrived at the Jarama front on that the northern hinge of the fascist very poor.” This remained a constant February 25 together with 80 others lines were very weakly held. .. theme in the diary. There is no ques- whose only training had been shoot- Pingarron Heights, our objective, tion that after the February 27th ing a rifle 3 times into a hillside and I had been strengthened. Yet it was fiasco the men’s morale was low and became a member of the Irish section. against Pingarron that the most cost- we were searching for answers. But The next day, we were informed of a ly attacks were held. There was a as the days followed, change for the pending attack where there would be triple line of interlacing machine gun better was noticed—new machine tank, artillery, and aviation support. fire and through this curtain the guns and other equipment arrived. We prepared large symbols on the Americans tried to advance.” There is no question that we were a ground behind our positions to direct After this action there was a rank and file bunch, but our morale the aviation support. stalemate. The fascists realized that and fighting ability was on par with We were up early on the 27th they couldn’t cut the all the brigades. The Lincolns were and when nothing occurred over the Valencia/Madrid road and isolate known and honored throughout next few hours, John Powers and Pat Madrid. Nor could we advance Spain. Murphy took me aside and in no against them. April 5th uncertain terms said, “This will be a The recurring question in my In broad spring sunlight at about fuck-up. If you want to live, just do mind has been, Why did Merriman 11 in the morning, Martin Hourihan, as we do.” There was no sign of any and his staff follow the suicidal the Lincoln Commander, came support. Minutes later we went over order? Many have answered: storming down the lines and ordered the top. Fascist fire was tremendous It might have been construed as all infantry men to attack the fascist compared to ours and many of our a mutiny if we did not follow the lines. No one moved. A few minutes worn out machine guns broke down. order. later he again appeared, pistol in We went a few yards, lay down and Our staff was naive and inexpe- hand, ordered the same attack and dug a shallow foxhole as much as rienced compared to the other the machine gunners to join in. possible. Those men who continued international brigades. Nobody moved. What had taken were dropping all around. We I still wonder?? place? returned to the trenches. I noticed Copic writes in the diary, Continued on page 20

THE VOLUNTEER March 2003 13 ALBA BOOKS, VIDEOS AND POSTERS ALBA EXPANDS WEB BOOKSTORE Buy Spanish Civil War books on the WEB. ALBA members receive a discount! WWWWWW.ALBA-V.ALBA-VALB.ORGALB.ORG BOOKS ABOUT THE LINCOLN BRIGADE The Triumph of Democracy in Spain by Paul Preston Kitchen Answer Book Hank Rubin The Lincoln Brigade, a Picture History by William Katz and Marc Crawford Honoring Sergeant Carter Allene G. Carter and Robert L. Allen The Color of War by Jordi & Arnau Carulla The Dead Leaves Barbara Jacobs EXHIBIT CATALOGS The Selected Poems of Miguel Hernández The Aura of the Cause, a photo album Edited by Ted Genoways Edited by Cary Nelson The Wound and the Dream: Sixty Years of American Poems about the Spanish Civil War VIDEOS by Cary Nelson Into the Fire: Women and the Spanish Civil War Passing the Torch: The Abraham Julia Newman Lincoln Brigade and its Legacy of Hope Art in the Struggle for Freedom by Anthony Geist and Jose Moreno Abe Osheroff Italian Workers of the World Dreams and Nightmares by Donna R. Gabaccia & Fraser M. Ottanelli, Editors Abe Osheroff Ralph Fasanella's America The Good Fight by Paul S. D’Ambrosio Sills/Dore/Bruckner Alvah Bessie’s Spanish Civil War Notebooks Forever Activists Edited by Dan Bessie Judith Montell British Women & the Spanish Civil War You Are History, You Are Legend by Angela Jackson Judith Montell Another Hill by Milton Wolff ❑ Yes, I wish to become an ALBA Our Fight—Writings by Veterans of the Associate, and I enclose a check for $25 Abraham Lincoln Brigade: Spain 1936-1939 made out to ALBA. Please send me The Edited by Alvah Bessie & Albert Prago Volunteer. Spain’s Cause Was Mine by Hank Rubin Name ______Comrades by Harry Fisher Address ______The Odyssey of the Abraham City______State ___Zip______Lincoln Brigade by Peter Carroll ❑ I’ve enclosed an additional donation of ❑ ❑ Rare Birds: An American Family ______. I wish do not wish to have this by Dan Bessie donation acknowledged in The Volunteer. The Politics of Revenge Please mail to: ALBA, 799 Broadway, Room 227, by Paul Preston New York, NY 10003

14 THE VOLUNTEER March 2003 Book Reviews Honoring the Forgotten Soldier, Sergeant Carter

Allene G. Carter and Robert L. Allen. years in Spain where he was wound- Honoring Sergeant Carter ed, imprisoned by Franco and Amistad/Harper/Collins, escaped. 214 pages, $23.95 Carter’s struggle against fascism reached its climax in World War II. Charging toward the Rhine, now US By William Loren Katz Sgt. First Class Carter, Thompson machine-gun in hand, confronted a In recounting the story of her Nazi squad and “got every one of father-in-law, Sergeant Eddie Carter, them.” But, seriously wounded from whose anti-fascist impulses sent him shrapnel and bullets, he saw another to China, Spain and Germany, eight soldiers advancing on him. Allene Carter, and noted historian Carter brought down six men, cap- Robert L. Allen, have skillfully tured and brought the last two back merged a loving family memoir with to US lines. Carter returned home a a fascinating detective story. Born to hero. But he ran afoul of the “Red an African American missionary in Scare” when he publicly expressed China, teen-age Eddie Carter rushed his disgust at the way Black soldiers off to serve Chiang Kai-Shek when “were always being attacked by introduces us to a loving, united, the Japanese invaded in the early white civilians and police” in fighting family. Her research and 1930s, then fought fascism for two Georgia, and he appeared at a persistence finally managed to van- rally—that also featured Frank quish the fanatical general and his Sinatra and artist Bill Maudlin— cabal who denied Carter vindication sponsored by the American Youth or even a hearing. In 1999 Clinton for Democracy, a group that had publicly apologized to the Carter passed into in the cross-hairs of the family because “he was denied the FBI and other fanatical red-hunters. opportunity to continue to serve in Army Intelligence placed Carter uniform the nation he so dearly under surveillance, decided his loved.”Allene Carter’s meticulous achievements in China, Spain, and detective work unfolds in a gripping Germany made him a “security narrative, revealing how official risk,” and then denied him a right to racial bigotry and red-baiting reenlist. Without learning why, he unleashed against returning Lincoln officially passed from patriot hero to veterans corroded their constitution- pariah. Carter died in 1963, and his al rights and denied their pursuit of family tried to investigate and chal- happiness. Unlike many others, this lenge his persecution only to face story ends on a late if triumphant stonewalling. But one victory came note. If it draws the wide audience it in 1997 when President Bill Clinton deserves, and reaches young citizens posthumously awarded Eddie Carter in schools and colleges, the sacrifices a Congressional Medal of Honor for made by the Carters and others for his courage in Germany 52 years ear- democracy at home and abroad will lier, and 33 years after his death. He not have been in vain. is the only Lincoln Brigader to have William Loren Katz is co-author earned the medal.Allene Carter’s (with the late Marc Crawford) of The exciting page-turner with its person- Lincoln Brigade. al letters and period photographs,

THE VOLUNTEER March 2003 15 Book Reviews Creating Spaniards: Culture and National Identity in Republican Spain by Sandie Holguín meant teaching them to consume and that they accomplished a great University of Wisconsin Press, 2002. and appreciate a “high” culture that deal, despite strong resistance from was really the folk’s to begin with. the right, the radical left, and the By Sebastiaan Faber While the Krausists realized that regionalists. modernization also implied political, Holguín makes clear, however, For the progressive Spanish economic, and agricultural reform, at that the Republican leadership was bourgeoisie, the nineteenth and bottom they believed Spain’s prob- unable to overcome the contradic- twentieth centuries were intensely lem to be “spiritual,” and that it tions between its own centralist bias frustrating. Generation after genera- could only be adequately addressed and the demands of Catalan and tion, its vision of a modern, through the leadership of an enlight- Basque nationalism, or between its Republican Spanish democracy was ened class of educators. own reformist attitude (and the top- thwarted by the conservative bloc When the ailing system finally down structure inherent in its that dominated national political life. collapsed in April 1931 and the self-appointed educational mission) For the forward-looking middle Second Republic was proclaimed, and the revolutionary goals of the classes—whose main center was the these intellectuals found themselves Socialist and Anarchist rank and file. Insititución Libre de Enseñanza, at the helm of the nation. Against Finally, Holguín shows there founded in 1876 as a secular island in tremendous national and interna- was a tragically quixotic dimension a paltry educational system monopo- tional odds, they immediately began to the Republicans’ attempt to lead lized by the Catholic Church—what implementing an ambitious program Spain into modernity through a pro- Spain needed above all was “cul- to infuse Spain with the cultural elixir gram based on nineteenth-century ture,” understood as a mix of necessary for its regeneration. Sandie notions of cultural literacy based on modern civilization, cultural literacy, Holguín’s Creating Spaniards provides literature and a “cult of reading.” and conscious citizenship, to be a detailed assessment of the Especially striking in this respect is brought about by education. Republicans’ efforts to educate, unite, the Republicans’ almost religious “Culture” implied a sense of and modernize Spain from 1931 faith in the redeeming and unifying organic wholeness or social health through the end of the Civil War. potential of “high” culture, particu- through which Spain could come Holguín focuses on the so-called larly Spanish Golden Age theater. into its own as a national communi- misiones pedagógicas, the teams of Holguín argues that this traditional, ty, integrate into Europe, and regain educators who traveled the Spanish bookish bias prevented the its rightful place at the forefront of countryside to teach, perform plays, Republican elites from appreciating nations. The institucionistas were and create schools and libraries in an the potential of film as a medium. strongly influenced by the German attempt to bring even the remotest, The strength of this book lies in philosopher Krause, who in turn was most disadvantaged communities the detail with which it describes the heavily indebted to romanticism. into the national fold. Holguín work of the misiones pedagógicas The Krausist middle-class intellectu- argues that these educational pro- and related projects such as García als admired the Spanish folk, which grams, which especially flourished Lorca’s traveling theater: we learn in their opinion harbored the energy under the Republican-Socialist gov- what towns they visited, what they and resources necessary for national ernments of 1931-33, were guided by presented, and how both their audi- regeneration; but they also believed a clear notion of Spanish nationhood ences and the press reacted to their that the pueblo needed to be put (albeit a Castile-centric one); that, in efforts. The book contains some won- back in touch with its own cultural their effort to “shape a national derful archival photos as well. This heritage—a heritage that fortunately identity that was held together by work’s greatest weakness is its lack had been preserved in Spain’s mas- the glue of culture,” they were of precise political contextualization. terpieces of art and literature. inspired by educational programs of Educating the pueblo, therefore, revolutionary Mexico and the USSR; Continued on page 17

16 THE VOLUNTEER March 2003 Book Reviews The Finns in Spain

Meidan Poikamme Espanjassa [Our describe the face of combat, the split- battalion headquarters. Bill Aalto’s Boys in Spain]. Edited by K. E. second luck of survival, the stunned memoir of partisan warfare—one of Heikkinen (Finnish Workers Federation, agony of injury and death, and the three such accounts in this work— 1939, 96 pp.) Translated by Matti A. daily fortitude that kept their spirits describes the difficulties of guerrilla Mattson, 2002. alive. Carl Syvanen, for instance, tells warfare as the fascists learned to in a matter of fact way how he and anticipate Republican tactics. Simo another frightened soldier acciden- Kavhu’s “A Sketch of Life in a By Peter Carroll tally captured 25 fully armed fascists Concentration Camp in Democratic at Brunete. “After that,” he says, “we France” still sets the reader’s teeth The 350 or so Finns who served were more careful of entering houses grinding in frustration. in the International Brigades built a of which we knew nothing.” This is a modest but captivating fine record of courage, commitment, There is much information volume. We applaud Matti Mattson and valor that is still exhilarating to woven through these personal narra- for making it available to English discover in this recently translated tives. Frank Rogers gives an readers. and reprinted booklet. Originally eyewitness account of the fascist published in 1939, it was put into breakthrough near Belchite in 1938, Copies may be ordered for $10. English by Lincoln vet Matti depicting the deaths of Commissar Send checks made out to VALB to Mattson. It stands today as a com- Dewitt Parker and Battalion VALB, Room 227, 799 Broadway, New pelling documentary history of one Commander David Reiss when a fas- York, NY 10003. ethnic group’s participation in the cist shell scored a direct hit on Spanish Civil War. The Finnish volunteers went to National Identity in Republican Spain Spain from Canada and the United Continued from page 16 States, as well as from their native land, and saw action in nearly every battle from Jarama in January 1937 It never stops to explain the political are repetitious, and the text is through the Sierra Pandols twenty history of the Republic from 1931 to marred by some unfortunate stylistic months later. They served in the 15th 1936, and there is barely any men- and factual slips (Juan Negrín, for Brigade (both with the Lincoln- tion of the bienio negro, the two example, was not a Communist Washington and MacKenzie years of conservative rule preceding [173]; CNT does not stand for Papeneau battalions), the 11th the February 1936 elections. “Confederación Nacional del Brigade (German), and in many As a result, the reader might get Trabajado” [29, 172], etc.). other units, including the medical the mistaken impression that the Nevertheless, Creating Spaniards corps, artillery, transportation, and Republicans’ pre-war progressive is an important study that helps guerrilla groups. Within the 15th reforms lasted five years, or that explain how the Republicans’ faith in Brigade, there were two predomi- their cultural work was done in a “culture” as a cure for Spain’s many nantly Finnish machine gun political vacuum. And while problems spawned an unprecedent- companies: Toivo Antikainen with Holguín goes to great lengths to clar- ed and relatively successful the Lincolns and Ilkkan-Toivo ify the different educational views of educational project that was not, Antikainen among the Mac-Paps. Republicans, Socialists, Anarchists, however, without its limitations. Brigade leaders also chose a dispro- and the right, her overall use of portionate number of Finns to fight political terms such as “Republican” Sebastiaan Faber is assistant professor with guerrilla units behind enemy or “revolutionary” is vague and con- of Hispanic Studies at Oberlin College lines. Their experiences in Spain pro- fusing. (Communist policy during and author of Exile and Cultural vide a cross-section of the history of the Civil War, for instance, can hard- Hegemony: Spanish Intellectuals in the IBs. ly be called “revolutionary.”) Mexico (1939-1975) (Vanderbilt, 2002). Here in simple, understated Finally, the book could have prose, and with memories fresh from been better edited. Some passages action in 1939, the ex-soldiers THE VOLUNTEER March 2003 17 Book Reviews

seem captivated by the darker leg- The Swiss in Spain ends. The authors mention two cases of deserter executions and seven Les Combattans Suisses en Espagne units, although the large majority of other “possible” cases of “liquida- Républicaine (1936-1939). Swiss volunteers served in the ranks tion.” After pages of describing the By Nic Ulmi and Peter Huber. of the International Brigades, many cases, they conclude that the evi- (Lausanne: Editions Antipodes, 2001). finding their way there after serving dence does not allow for in other groups. Despite the consid- confirmation in one sense or the erable number of Swiss nationals in other. This conclusion is disconcert- By Robert Coale the IBs, linguistic differences pre- ing, for while the issue is undeniably The Swiss experience in the vented the fielding of a national unit; an important one, there is an imbal- Spanish Civil War is unique and has instead they served in French, Italian ance in its treatment. The problems not previously received the attention and German battalions. Interestingly, and excesses within the IB are a it deserves. Ironically, if one takes whereas the Swiss worked smoothly valid issue, however conjecture is into account the 800 volunteers in with their French or Italian com- not historiography. relation to total population, the rades, the more severe manners of Notwithstanding the above, Swiss contingent was proportionate- the Germans were not always appre- Ulmi and Huber should be congratu- ly one of the largest. ciated by their Swiss cousins. lated for this first major study on the Much like numerous works on For veterans from western Swiss contribution to Republican the Spanish Civil War published democracies, after dissolution of the Spain. It provides a valuable presen- over the last ten years, this volume Brigades and repatriation, their tation of the efforts of hundreds of makes extensive use of the “Moscow immediate problems were over, but Swiss men and women to defend the Archives.” The authors also success- the authors emphasize that this was Second Spanish Republic against fully mine sources in the Swiss not so for the Swiss who faced mili- reaction and fascism. Furthermore, Federal Archives, including police tary tribunals for violating national the subject is far from closed despite documents and military tribunal neutrality. So rapid was the repres- the sixty years that have passed. Just records. These archives are surpris- sion that a full third of the military two years ago the Federal Parliament ingly rich in intercepted letters to trials were held “in absentia” while refused to grant amnesty to these and from Spain as well as sworn dec- the men were still in Spain. A chill- very men and women. larations made during postwar trials. ing result is that Swiss authorities The result is a well-documented unknowingly convicted dozens of Robert Coale teaches Spanish at the study of the Swiss who fought in men after the latter had encountered University of Jacksonville in Florida. Republican Spain. In addition to the death on the battlefield. Of the veter- valuable research, documents origi- ans who survived and were tried, 80 nally in three languages are percent received prison sentences of centralized into this French text. The from one to six months. These sen- Return study also includes 25 photographs, tences were more severe than those Continued from page 10 biographical information, and a sta- handed down to Swiss men who tistical breakdown of volunteers’ served in the French Foreign Legion, electricity to towns which 20 years socio-economic backgrounds. but just as severe as the 30 sentences previous had none. Back-breaking Structurally, the book is orga- to men who volunteered on the peasant labor is a thing of the past. nized around the three key periods Franco side. Fields are now cultivated and har- of the volunteer experience: motiva- A section I must take issue with vested with modern machines. Spain tions and the road to Spain, the is the one on “Discipline, certainly has come a long way since struggle in Spain, and finally, the Surveillance and Repression in the the last time these same fields were return home. International Brigades” as it is the visited. Given the relative proximity to weakest in the book. Whereas a sim- My visit to Spain ended with the Spain, many Swiss arrived at an ilar section in Rémi Skoutelsky’s emotional homage to John Cookson early stage in the fighting, enrolling work on French volunteers L’Espoir in Marsa. I then returned to New in a wide variety of militia units even guidait Leur Pas disproves many of York both vivified by memories and before the Brigades were created. the bloodier claims while presenting inspired by discoveries. Many served in anarchist or Poumist proof of excesses, Ulmi and Huber 18 THE VOLUNTEER March 2003 work mainly with Santiago de Cuba. How to explain the bombings of ContinuedLetters from page 2 I then began renting 30-foot trucks republican cities that caused a great and driving to Montreal with various number of civilian casualties, made Dear Editor, types of medical supplies bound for by German and Italian airplanes? I met Jack Oswald four years ago Havana. I’d estimate that I was able How to explain that during World and have been in touch with him to move about 60,000 pounds of sup- War II Francoist spies worked for the ever since. I know many of us who plies to Montreal alone, where it was Japanese army and that Nationalist have been on the road doing speak- loaded on boats going to Cuba. Spain sent 40,000 “volunteers” to the ing gigs, and other vets who have Inspiration? Well, after meeting Russian front? What bothers the so- come in contact with youngsters you Milt, I considered joining called “democratas de toda la vida” locally, have wondered if we ever Marcos in Chiapas, but Cuba has is that international brigades, espe- motivated an individual to join in presented herself and I have been cially Americans, British and what we called the Good Fight. involved ever since. My group has Canadians, have helped the real Jack is but one of many who no overhead; we accept no pay. The Spain during and after the war. And have been moved by such as Abe cost is for diesel fuel and overseas when they can’t avoid the subject, Osheroff, Clarence Kailin and oth- containers out of Canada. We have a they only can say that the volunteers ers...and who know by other Vets, or beat up 24 foot Volvo donated by Joe were fooled by communism. The just the Legend as recounted in doc- Rody, John Rody’s brother, who answer is typical of the incompetent umentaries and books. fought in Spain. ruling people that we have in great Knowing this I am asking The Salud, number in Spain. I also want to wish Volunteer to let you all know what Jack Oswald you a Happy New Year 2003. your lives have meant to so many. Best Regards Milton Wolff Dear ALBA, Josep Verdaguer I enclose a check for 50 dollars as [email protected] Dear Milt, a contribution to your organization. I have been to Cuba three times. This amount is the contribution of Dear Volunteer, I went after I met a guy, Ned Powell, my father Joan Verdaguer, my com- Thank you so much for sending at a socialist meeting in Madison. He pany MASIES SERRRA the copy of the December Volunteer. had 5,000 pounds of blood infusion MAGRA.SLL, and myself. With this As editor of the IBMT newsletter it is pumps he wanted delivered to Cuba. initial contribution we want to always important to know what’s We stored them in a barn outside of remember all Americans that have going on elsewhere, although your Madison and I drove them in a 26 been fighting for the ideas of true member Gideon Rosenbluth is excel- foot U-Haul truck to NYC to Lucius democracy and freedom in Spain lent at keeping me abreast of the Walker of The Pastors for Peace. during the war and after it. latest news in the US. The December From there they went to Cuba on one We can’t forget what the veter- edition was particularly poignant for of their many caravans. Ned Powell, ans have done for the Spanish me as I got to know Evelyn and Bill a close friend of Clarence Kailin, had Republic. Their effort wasn’t useless. van Felix briefly at the 2001 Hominaje driven with the Pastors for Peace Thanks to the American veterans in Madrid and was sad to hear first of some ten years ago. This meeting, and other international brigadistas, Evelyn’s death and then of Bill’s so where I met Ned, goes on every the republican army could resist soon after. They were lovely people. month in Madison. It was started by during three years -without good I would like to wish veterans, Clarence Kailin twelve years ago. weapons and almost lacking air force- their families and supporters a For several years, I have been a massive Italian, German, healthy and peaceful 2003, and look donating money to The Children’s Portuguese and Spanish nationalist forward to meeting some of them Hospital in Havana through VALB coalition. The volunteers pushed back again in Spain in July. in San Francisco with Hon Brown; in several battles the so-called “pro- Regards, but I felt that I needed to do more, so fessionals” of the Spanish foreign Geraldine (Doran) Abrahams I flew to Havana to attend The legion as well as the mercenaries. World Solidarity Conference in 2000. How to explain to the young PS My Irish father, Gerry Doran, When I returned to the States I generations that the regime that we went to Spain in December 1936 with started working with many groups have had during the past almost 40 the first group of Irish volunteers led and individuals such as Nancy years was the result of a failed coup by Frank Ryan. He was severely Mikelson of the Chicago Friends d’etat? How to explain that the wounded at Cordoba on Christmas group, of which I am a member. Spanish Republic suffered an inter- Day 1936 but made a recovery and Nancy has been moving supplies to national blockade, especially from returned to Dublin in the summer of Cuba for years. We sent small quan- democracies like France and Great ‘37. He later married my mother (also tities of medicine and supplies Britain, because these countries of Irish heritage) and moved to through her network of activists, who feared Hitler’s expansionism? Scotland. THE VOLUNTEER March 2003 19 Joseph Grigas Continued from page 11 of the section and, advancing under immediate heavy fire, managed to reach the Distinguished perimeter wire. The remainder of Conduct Medal the Company was by this time (DCM). This is pinned to the ground. Private the second high- Grigas breached a gap in the wire est British and and led his section through to assault Canadian award the enemy concrete machine gun for gallantry posts which were knocked out in (after the Capt. Duncan McMillan, Sherry Atkinson, Joe Grigas, quick succession. Although Private Victoria Cross) for Spin Reid Grigas’ section was the only section all ranks below of the Company to enter the battery commissioned officer. During all of brought down the German plane. position the attack was led with such World War II only five DCM’s were Joe was recently honored as determination that it caused the sur- awarded to the men in the Royal Veteran of the Year at a ceremony at render of the garrison of Canadian Regiment. his residence at West Side House in approximately two hundred men When I first talked with the Worcester, and two of his old com- and in the capture of four 9.2” how- Adjutant at the Royal Canadian rades from the Royal Canadian itzers and large quantities of Regiment, in addition to learning Regiment accompanied by the ammunition, small arms and stores. about the Distinguished Conduct Regimental Adjutant drove eleven The personal gallantry, determina- Medal, he told me that Joe was hours from London, Ontario to pay tion and leadership of Private Grigas known as International Joe because tribute to Joe. It had been thought was largely responsible for the suc- of Spain, and that he had shot down that Joe was killed in action later in cess of this operation.” a German ME 109 with his Bren gun the war, and the Regiment was The citation was signed by Joe’s when it was being chased at a low delighted to learn from Bill Carrick commanding officers and by level by a British Spitfire. The that the hero of Pacino was alive and Generals Montgomery and British pilot subsequently verified that they could be reunited with him Alexander. Joe was granted an that it was Joe’s groundfire that after almost sixty years.

Copic were placed pointing out the fascist began their useless firing. And the Continued from page 13 positions. fascist artillery was also actively fir- The next morning we were up ing. Both sides couldn’t hit the lines Landis’ book describes the before dawn and soon were ready. because we were located on hills and action, “The loss of the 200 meters of But again as on Feb. 27 we waited, the artillery trajectory caused their trench on the 14th of March was rec- and soon the full sun was out. We shells to fall behind the lines. tified on April 5th when elements of waited and waited. Finally about 11 Finally, Ed Flaherty and a group of the Dombrowski and Garibaldi a.m. we saw and heard 4 small tanks his men went over the parapets and Battalions recaptured the positions. slowly coming up the hill behind us were met with a storm of bullets. Captains [Allen] Johnson and and they crawled over our parapet Those who could, including Ed, Hourihan directed the action and the toward the fascists. Up to now there returned. One of his men (Kline of Lincoln’s job was to cover fire for the was no word from our company Chicago I think) lay wounded in other Battalions. commanders. Hourihan then came front of us–he yelled for help all But here is my memory of the storming down the trenches as noted afternoon, but the fascist fire kept operation. I was a machine gunner before. The very small tanks were anyone from assisting. He was final- and the machine gunners were locat- amateurishly shooting at the fascist ly pulled in at dusk. There weren’t ed next to the Lincolns’ first trenches. They did very little dam- too many other casualties in this company commanded by Ed age. One tank drove into a large hole action. I can’t help but believe that Flaherty. The British Battalion was about 70 feet in front of our position Landis was given sanitized versions further to the right. On April 4 we and couldn’t get out. The turret of what actually took place. And were told that a full scale attack opened and the men were able to again I want to emphasize that the would occur the next day, support escape to our lines. Soon an anti tank Battalion, now seasoned soldiers, would be artillery, tanks, and avia- shell hit the tank and the other tanks refused to go on a suicide mission. tion. Aviation ground directions left the field. Our antiquated artillery

20 THE VOLUNTEER March 2003 The Lincolin Vets take the stage, Hank Rubin, Clifton Amsbury, Coleman Persilly, Anthony Toney, Virginia Malbin, Spanish miliciana Amaya Tello, Hilda Roberts, Nate Thornton, and Milt Wolff. prison reform project. Reunion Bay Area Associates Martha Continued from page 3 Olson Jarocki, and Peter Carroll described the Post’s activist commit- American to command white troops ment to causes of social justice, civil in battle, offering a plaque in the liberties, and international solidarity. name of the VALB to Law’s daugh- Linda Lustig stood before a projection ter, Euunice Maynie. Roby Newman of the forthcoming monument that accepted the memorial in her will honor the members of the absence. Lincoln Brigade at a site near the San The city council of Berkeley also Francisco embarcadero and explained presented a proclamation, naming the the status of the project. It is still day in honor of Hilda Roberts, a months away from completion. nurse in Spain and an outspoken crit- The troupe then presented a long Berkeley City Councilman Kriss ic of U.S. policy in the Persian Gulf. set of “Songs of Protest and Worthington presents a proclamation Keynote speaker Angela Davis, Resistance” that was developed by honoring Hilda Roberts the well-known activist and Barthol and ALBA’s Peter Glazer. As Professor of African American and Richard Bermack projected black and The Internationale. The theater Feminist Studies at UC Santa Cruz, white images behind the musicians, shook with laughter and then with honored the radical political tradi- the songs took the audience around sustained applause for a grand after- tions that attack racism, sexism, and the globe to evoke the heritage of noon of political entertainment. war. Reminding the audience that 11 anti-fascism, labor activism, solidari- The audience departed into the million people around the world had ty, and feminism. same gloomy world outside, but for taken to the streets in antiwar Suddenly, the program was a few hours felt the satisfaction of protests the previous weekend, she interrupted by the appearance of the sharing the spirit of dissent with exhorted them to continue to chal- vice president of the United States men and women who have been lenge threats to peace and civil (played by look alike Ed Holmes), fighting the good fight since the rights. Davis contributed her hono- who disavowed current administra- Spanish Civil War. rarium to Critical Resistance, a tion policies and shared a chorus of

THE VOLUNTEER March 2003 21 Contributions

In Memory of a Veteran Donor in Honor of Veteran Dr. Louis Kroll in memory of Zachary Stadt $50 Robert & Lynda Jaros in honor of Bill Susman Freda Novack in memory of Ed Bender $25 $100 Al Tarantal in memory of Harry Noble $25 Robert Kimbrough in honor of Clarence Kailin $100 Vicki Gabriner in memory of Jack Friedman $18 Evelyn Brack in memory of Dr. Ed Barsky $25 Donor in Memory of Suzanne & Alan Jay Rom in memory of Sam Schiff $50 Debra Mipos in memory of my parents $25 Bonnie Bramble in memory of Bill Bailey $20 Ruth Silber in honor of Sophie Saroff $50 Les Fein in memory of Dick & Gene Fein $100 Suzanne & David Cane in memory of Lawrence Donor in Honor of Cane $100 Sidney Emerman in honor of Sadie Klein $15 Jeanette Dean in memory of Wilfred Eliezer T. Margolis in honor of the decency and Mendelsohn $100 courage of George Siegel $250 Georges Sossenko in memory of Pedro Mateo Ruth Silber in honor of Lola Weixel $50 Merino $25 Rhea K. Kish in memory of Leslie Kish $100 Contributions Dr. Steven Jonas in memory of Dr. Edward K. Barsky $50 Tom Graff $25 Moe Fishman in memory of John Fernandez and Andrew Scherer & Claudia Slovinsky $25 Felix Kusman $25 V. Rhea in memory of Al Ziegler $15 Naomi Zalon Cooper in memory of Sol Zalon $50 Annette Halpern in memory of Joseph Isaac Siegal $50 VisitVisit thethe ALBALBAA Rita Neri in memory of Dino Neri $50 Paul Fitzgerald in memory of Danny Fitzgerald wwebeb sitsitee aatt $50 Mae Millstone in memory of George Israel www.alba-valb.org Millstone $50 www.alba-valb.org Marcus G. Singer in memory of Larry Cane $50 Ann Cooper in memory of Louis Cooper $50 Elaine Bunn in memory of Tommy Lloyd $50 Gino Baumann in memory of Swiss Veteran Paul Trocz $25 22 THE VOLUNTEER March 2003 They Still Draw Pictures

They Still Draw Pictures: Children’s Art in Wartime from the Spanish Civil War to Kosovo is a traveling exhibition that was curated by ALBA’s Tony Geist and Peter Carroll. The exhibit consists of 78 color drawings creat- ed by Spanish refugee children and 22 children’s drawings from other wars. January 15, 2003-March 23, 2003 Zoellner Art Center Lehigh University 420 East Packard Ave. Bethlehem, PA 18015. For information, 610-758-3619. August 13, 2003-October 24, 2003 April 5, 2003-June 15, 2003 University Art Museum Hood Museum Southern Illinois University Dartmouth College Carbondale, IL 62901 Hanover, NH For information, 618-453-5388 For information, 603-646-3646

ALBA’S TRAVELING EXHIBITION THE AURA OF THE CAUSE

ALBA’s photographic exhibit, The For further information about The Aura of the Cause, has been shown at Aura of the Cause exhibit, contact the Puffin Room in New York City, ALBA’s executive secretary, Diane the University of California-San Fraher, 212-598-0968. The exhibit is Diego, the Salvador Dali Museum available for museum and art gallery in St. Petersburg, FL, the Fonda Del showings. Sol Visual Center in Washington DC, and the University of Illinois. This exhibit, curated by Professor Shreveport, La Cary Nelson of the University of January 15, 2003-March 15, 2003 Illinois, consists of hundreds of Meadows Museum of Art photographs of the Lincoln Centenary College Brigaders, other international vol- 2911 Centenary Blvd unteers and their Spanish Shreveport, La 71104 comrades, in training and at rest, 318-869-5226 among the Spanish villages and in battle. BRING THIS EXHIBIT TO YOUR LOCALITY Contact Diane Fraher, ALBA executive secretary: 212-598-0968; Fax: 212-529-4603; e-mail [email protected]

THE VOLUNTEER March 2003 23 Actor Richard Dreyfuss Highlights NY Reunion Plus "Which Side Are You On: Songs of Protest & Resistance" Sunday April 27, 2003 For Tickets: 212-674-5398

Vets to Honor Spanish Consul Friday, April 25, 6:15 p.m. King Juan Carlos Center (See P. 4)

The Volunteer c/o Abraham Lincoln Brigade Archives NON-PROFIT 799 Broadway, Rm. 227 U.S. POSTAGE New York, NY 10003 PAID PERMIT NO. 1430 HACKENSACK, N.J.

24 THE VOLUNTEER March 2003