Ready for revolution : the CNT defense committees in Barcelona, 1933-1938

Seeing the writing on the wall, one of Spain's largest unions began secretly arming workers throughout the country. The anarcho-syndicalist union evolved from overseeing workers' defense to organizing armed resistance to the Fascist coup. From there, it administered entire militias and finally coordinated industrial self-management and food distribution, leading a revolution within the Spanish Civil War. A fascinating new history and a lively narrative of ordinary men and women making history. Agustín Guillamón is an independent historian and the author of The Friends of Durruti Group, 1937–39 and The Committees Revolution . Cover Title Page Copyright Information Dedication Translator’s note Introduction: Ready for Revolution 1: From the Shapiro Report to the October 1934 Working Party Resolution 2: The Local Revolutionary Preparedness Committee 3: Differentiating between Defense Groups, Affinity Groups, and Action Groups 4: The Barcelona FAI Critiques the Nosotros Group’s Notions of “Army” and “Power” (1936) 5: The Worker Uprising of 19–20 July 1936: The Defense Committees See Off the Army 6: The Revolutionary Ward Committees, the People’s Militias, and the Revolutionary Situation in July 1936 7: The Assembly-Driven Modus Operandi of the Defense and Supplies Committees 8: From the CAMC’S Military Failure to Militarization 9: The Defense Committees, All or Nothing at All. From Potential Organs of Worker Power to Mere Armed Adjuncts of the Trade Unions 10: The Bread War: Comorera versus the Barrio Committees 11: The Barcelona FAI Radicalized by the Defense Committees 12: The Defense Committees in May 1937 and Their Final Dissolution Documentary Appendix 1: The Division of Labour among the Six-­member ­Defense Cadre109 Documentary Appendix 2: “The Friends of Durruti Group. To the Working Class.”110 Bibliography Author’s Glossary Index Gallery of Images About AK Press About the Kate Sharpley Library? An Armed, Clandestine, Union Committee Evolves In The Revolutionary Vanguard. Ready For Revolution / Kate Sharpley Library -- From The Shapiro Report To The October 1914 Working Party Resolution -- The Local Revolutionary Preparedness Committee -- Differentiating Between Defense Groups, Affinity Groups, And Action Groups -- The Barcelona Fai Critiques The Nosotros Group's Notions Of 'army And Power (1936) -- The Worker Uprising Of 19-20 July 1936: The Defense Committees See Off The Army -- The Revolutionary Ward Committees, The People's Militias, And The Revolutionary Situation In July 1936 -- The Assembly-driven Modus Operandi Of The Defense And Supplies Committees -- From The Camc's Military Failure To Militarization -- The Defenses Committees, All Or Nothing At All, From Potential Organs Of Worker Power To Mere Armed Adjuncts Of The Trade Unions -- The Bread War: Comorera Versus The Barrio Committees -- The Barcelona Fai Radicalized By The Defense Committees -- The Defense Committees In May 1937 And Their Final Dissolution -- The Division Of Labour Among The Six-member Defense Cadre -- The Friends Of Durruti Group: To The Working Class. Agustín Guillamón ; Translated By Paul Sharkey. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Translated From The Spanish A chronicle of the armed wing of the anarcho-syndicalist union that evolved from workers’ defense to organizers of armed resistance to the Fascist coup, to militia administrators, and finally to coordinator of industrial self-management and food distribution during the Spanish revolution. A fascinating new history wrapped in a lively narrative making the reader an eyewitness to history as it unfolds.