Crusade of the Left : The Lincoln Battalion in the Spanish Civil War

Between 1936 and 1938, some 3,000 young Americans sailed to France and crossed the Pyrenees to take part in the brutal civil war raging in Spain. Virtually all joined the International Brigades, formed under the auspices of the Soviet-led Comintern and largely directed by Communists. Yet a large number were not Communists; their activism was inspired by domestic and international crises of the 1930s, and colored by idealism Th e men who went to Spain came out of a radical subculture that emerged from the Depression and the New Deal. Th is radicalism was a native plant, but it was nourished from abroad. In the thirties the menace of fascism seemed to be spreading like cancer across Europe, giving an international aspect to many domestic problems in the United States. To intellectuals, students, unionists, liberals, and leftists, the threat of fascism was so real that many came to believe that if it was not stopped in Spain, eventually they would have to take up arms against fascism at home. To understand the Americans who fought in the Spanish Civil War it is necessary to bury some of the shibboleths of cold war years. Dissidence in the United States occurs in response to perceptions of reality on this side of the Atlantic, not because of the wishes of men in the Soviet Union. The members of the Lincoln Battalion were genuine products of America, and their story is properly a page in American military and political history. From them, one can learn much about the world of the 1930s and perhaps even something about the potential of modern man for thought and action in time of crisis. Between 1936 And 1938, Some 3,000 Young Americans Sailed To France And Crossed The Pyrenees To Take Part In The Brutal Civil War Raging In Spain. Virtually All Joined The International Brigades, Formed Under The Auspices Of The Soviet-led Comintern And Largely Directed By Communists. Yet A Large Number Were Not Communists; Their Activism Was Inspired By Domestic And International Crises Of The 1930s, And Colored By Idealism. The Men Who Went To Spain Came Out Of A Radical Subculture That Emerged From The Depression And The New Deal. This Radicalism Was A Native Plant, But It Was Nourished From Abroad. In The Thirties The Menace Of Fascism Seemed To Be Spreading Like Cancer Across Europe, Giving An International Aspect To Many Domestic Problems In The United States. To Intellectuals, Students, Unionists, Liberals, And Leftists, The Threat Of Fascism Was So Real That Many Came To Believe That If It Was Not Stopped In Spain, Eventually They Would Have To Take Up Arms Against Fascism At Home. To Understand The Americans Who Fought In The Spanish Civil War It Is Necessary To Bury Some Of The Shibboleths Of Cold War Years. Dissidence In The United States Occurs In Response To Perceptions Of Reality On This Side Of The Atlantic, Not Because Of The Wishes Of Men In The Soviet Union. The Members Of The Lincoln Battalion Were Genuine Products Of America, And Their Story Is Properly A Page In American Military And Political History. From Them, One Can Learn Much About The World Of The 1930s And Perhaps Even Something About The Potential Of Modern Man For Thought And Action In Time Of Crisis.--book Cover. Introduction --- I. Madrid Is The Heart -- Ii. World In Crisis -- Iii. The Comintern Paves The Way -- Iv. Those Who Volunteered -- V. The Road To Battle -- Vi. A Valley Called Jarama -- Vii. Generals Of The Rear -- Viii. The Plains Of Brunete -- Ix. Quinto And Belchite: The Apogee -- X. The Lessons Of War -- Xi. The Snows Of Teruel -- Xii. The Mind Of The Volunteer -- Xiii. Collapse In Aragón -- Xiv. The Wages Of Discipline -- Xv. Offensive On The Ebro -- Xvi. The Soldiers Become Veterans -- Xvii. An Untarnished Epic --- Appendices. Robert A. Rosenstone ; With A New Introduction By The Author. Originally Published: New York : Pegasus, C1969. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Between 1936 and 1938, some 3,000 young Americans sailed to France and crossed the Pyrenees to take part in the brutal civil war raging in Spain. Virtually all joined the International Brigades, formed under the auspices of the Soviet-led Comintern and largely directed by Communists. Yet a large number were not Communists; their activism was inspired by domestic and international crises of the 1930s, and colored by idealism.The men who went to Spain came out of a radical subculture that emerged from the Depression and the New Deal. Th is radicalism was a native plant, but it was nourished from abroad. In the thirties the menace of fascism seemed to be spreading like cancer across Europe, giving an international aspect to many domestic problems in the United States. To intellectuals, students, unionists, liberals, and leftists, the threat of fascism was so real that many came to believe that if it was not stopped in Spain, eventually they would have to take up arms against fascism at home.To understand the Americans who fought in the Spanish Civil War it is necessary to bury some of the shibboleths of cold war years. Dissidence in the United States occurs in response to perceptions of reality on this side of the Atlantic, not because of the wishes of men in the Soviet Union. Th e members of the Lincoln Battalion were genuine products of America, and their story is properly a page in American military and political history. From them, one can learn much about the world of the 1930s and perhaps even something about the potential of modern man for thought and action in time of crisis. Cover -- Half Title -- Title -- Copyright -- Dedication -- Contents -- INTRODUCTION TO THE TRANSACTION EDITION -- PREFACE -- ACKNOWLEDGMENTS -- A NOTE ON THE NOTES -- ROLL CALL -- CHAPTER -- I Madrid Is the Heart -- II World in Crisis -- III The Comintern Paves the Way -- IV Those Who Volunteered -- V The Road to Battle -- VI A Valley Called Jarama -- VII Generals of the Rear -- VIII The Plains of Brunete -- IX Quinto and Belchite: The Apogee -- X The Lessons of War -- XI The Snows of Teruel -- XII The Mind of the Volunteer -- XIII Collapse in Aragon -- XIV The Wages of Discipline -- XV Offensive on the Ebro -- XVI The Soldiers Become Veterans -- XVII An Untarnished Epic -- APPENDICES -- A Backgrounds of the Volunteers -- B "Terror" in the Lincoln Battalion -- A NOTE ON SOURCES -- NOTES -- INDEX