December 2008
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FOUNDED BY THE VETERANS OF THE ABRAHAM LINCOLN BRIGADE Vol. XXV, No. 4 December 2008 Lincoln Brigade vets and their families attend events commemorating 70th anniversary of Despedida (International Brigades‘ departure from Spain) in Barcelona. Clockwise from left, vets George Sossenko, Jack Shafran, and Matti Mattson, and Josie Yurek, daughter of vet Steve Nelson. Photos by Jeannette Ferrary. See page 1 Sidewalk Views of the Monument, p. 4 Paul Robeson in Spain, p. 11 Despedida Celebrations, p. 5 Book Reviews, p. 17 Susman Lecture: Border Crossings, p. 10 ALBA Chair Peter Carroll participated in a roundtable dis- ALBA’s cussion at the California World History Association New conference in San Francisco focusing on how the subject of the Spanish Civil War (which can be taught in 10th grade Executive social studies) can be related to U.S. history courses (taught Director in 11th grade) by examining the role of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade. In this way, U.S. history directly connects Jeanne Houck, an to world history. experienced public historian, We hope to make further announcements after the has been appointed New Year. ALBA’s Executive Director, becoming the organization’s chief administrative officer. A native of Maryland, Houck earned her bachelor’s Vets Can Be Spanish Citizens degree from George Washington University and a PhD A recent revision of Spanish law provides that veterans of in history at New York University. She was founder and the International Brigades can receive full Spanish citizen- president of History Works, a New York City-based public ship without renouncing their existing citizenship and history consulting and production company. Most recently, without traveling to Spain to obtain it. According to she served as development associate at the Intrepid Sea, Spanish officials who addressed the Brigadistas at the 70th Air, and Space Museum. She is also executive producer of anniversary ceremonies in Barcelona in October, veterans the NEH-sponsored film project No Job for a Woman: The should make formal inquiries at the nearest Spanish Women Who Fought to Report World War II. She can be consulate. reached at [email protected]; (212) 674-5398. Teaching Teachers: Update ALBA’s key education initiative, which began last sum- The Volunteer mer with a summer institute for New York area teachers at founded by the New York University, will continue next year in New York Veterans of the and in other parts of the country. It’s too early to announce Abraham Lincoln Brigade the details, but new programs are in the planning stages an ALBA publication for New York City and Tampa, Florida. 799 Broadway, Suite 341 In Tampa, ALBA is cooperating with the Department of New York, NY 10003 History and the Department of Social Foundations at the (212) 674-5398 University of South Florida to create a program for June Editorial Board 2009. Titled “La Retaguardia de Tampa: The Spanish Civil Peter N. Carroll • Gina Herrmann War and Its Impact on Florida and U.S. History,” this sum- Fraser Ottanelli mer institute will focus on the strong support for the Book Review Editor Spanish Republic among the city’s Cuban, Spanish and Shirley Mangini Italian communities. A selected group of high school teach- Art Director-Graphic Designer ers will work with original documents drawn from the Richard Bermack ALBA archives and from the Spanish Civil War collection Editorial Assistance at the University of South Florida, which contains informa- Nancy Van Zwalenburg tion on the 26 Tampeños who volunteered to fight in Spain. Other documents, including original documentaries, focus Submission of Manuscripts Please send manuscripts by E-mail or on disk. on pro-loyalist activities in the city’s working-class enclave E-mail: [email protected] of Ybor City. On the west coast, a key curriculum office is expressing interest in developing similar programs. In November, Barcelona, 1938-2008 By Peter N. Carroll gratitude of the Spanish people Photos by Jeannette Ferrary who today and tomorrow will shout with enthusiasm— he great speech by Dolores Long live the heroes of the Ibarruri—“La Pasionaria of the International Brigades! TSpanish Republic”—at the fare- This year, on the anniversary of well parade of the International that historic moment, some of those Brigades in 1938 was quoted repeat- heroes did come back, but in num- edly in Barcelona during the 70th bers that showed the steady toll anniversary commemoration of the of time and the softening of Farewell to the International public memory of their hero- Brigadistas last October. ism. They came from Mexico, Ibarruri's vibrant words spoke of Cuba, and the United States; from the past and prophesized the present Russia, Bulgaria, and Rumania; from moment. On October 28, 1938, as tens Britain, Ireland, Germany, and Italy— of thousands of Barcelonans crowded and many of their family members the Gran Via to bid farewell to the came as well: children, grandchildren, International survivors who were nieces and nephews. Pasionaria's going home or, in some cases, into daughter was there, and she reminded exile because their home countries the Internationals how her mother had would not allow them to return, she long praised their heroism and their said: sacrifices for the cause of Spain’s We shall not forget you; freedom. and, when the olive tree of The Americans were represented peace is in flower, entwined by Matti Mattson, onetime ambulance with the victory laurels of the Republic of Spain—come driver; Jack Shafran, soldado from back! Brooklyn; and George Sossenko, Come back to our side French-born anarchist volunteer and for here you will find a home- resident of Atlanta. land—those who have no There were many speeches and country or friends, who must ceremonial tributes, laying of wreaths, live deprived of friendship—all, all will have the affection and Continued on page 2 December 2008 THE VOLUNTEER 1 Barcelona Continued from page 1 hoisted glasses of wine and cava to executions as well as the dead of honor both those who were present World War II. After a ceremonial lay- and those who are long gone. ing of a wreath, the guests were On Friday, October 25, at the small treated to a sumptuous dinner at the beachside town of Sitges, half an hour Pedralbes Palace, sponsored by the south of Barcelona, where most of the Catalan Ministry of Home Affairs. visitors were hosted, the city inaugu- Historian Paul Preston presented the rated “New York and the Spanish keynote speech, and a lively outdoor Civil War.” The exhibit, originally cre- musical presentation was performed ated by ALBA and the Museum of the by the Brossa Quartet. City of New York, funded by the Puffin Foundation and the Cervantes Historian Paul Preston Institute, is now traveling to various sites in Spain. This was the first ver- volunteers. Indeed, as one official sion of the exhibition that was spoke about his grandfather’s memory translated into Catalan, and more of fighting beside the Internationals, towns are on its itinerary in the north- the translator wept openly. east province of Spain. The next day, the veterans jour- neyed by bus to Barcelona for a ceremonial event at the monument to the International Brigades made by U.S. sculptor Roy Shiffrin on the Rambla del Carmel. An exuberant crowd applauded speeches by public officials and by Brigadistas, including George Sossenko. Then the contingent moved to the haunting cemetery on Montjuic, where several memorials Gloria Bodelón Alonso, from Ministry of honor the victims of Franco’s Justice, speaking to crowd about Spain’s offer of citizenship to IB vets. The official events, both solemn Ana Perez, head of the Association of and emotionally moving, reflected the Amigos of the International Brigades growing importance in contemporary A small brass band led a column Spain of overcoming the “pact of of Brigadistas and their friends silence” about the Spanish Civil War through the winding streets of Sitges and protecting the historical memory to the City Hall. The crowd, too large of those who lost the war. On a private for the accommodations, spilled into scale, these feelings seemed even more the hallway, but an official delegation intense, as the old men and women of government officers welcomed the who came from around the world group. The mayor and various cultural embraced each other, signaling the officials, including Salvador Clotas, passing of the generations and the head of the Fundacion Pablo Iglesias, inevitable sense of loss. For three full spoke with sincerity about the oppor- days, the warm Spanish sun mellowed Amaya Ibarruri, daughter of Dolores tunity to thank the surviving those darker thoughts. Ibarruri 2 THE VOLUNTEER December 2008 Clockwise from upper left corner: Universo Lipiz (Cuba); Victor Lovsky; daughter of Russian volunteer holding photo of Continued on page 3 father; Yury Turzhanskiy (Russia). December 2008 THE VOLUNTEER 3 Sidewalk Views of the Monument By Teresa Huhle started interviewing me after I inter- Two 20-year-old men from Seattle n a sunny Sunday afternoon viewed them. I saw them reading the Pablo in August I spent four hours I want to share with readers of The Neruda poems very carefully. They Obeside the Abraham Lincoln Volunteer what I was told. told me they didn't know what the Brigade monument in San Francisco. I monument was for—“didn’t really pay wanted to talk to everyone who Two young tourists from attention to it”—but they were study- stopped and looked at the monument. Switzerland ing Spanish and liked Neruda. “We When they were about to leave, I intro- “We were just trying to figure out were trying to translate and didn’t notice duced myself and asked, “Why did what dictator this is about.