Wednesday, July 20, 2016

*"Viva La Quince Brigada"- The Abraham Lincoln Battalion In The Spanish Civil War

Click On Title To Link To Abraham Lincoln Brigade Archives Site.

BOOK REVIEW

THE ODYSSEY OF THE ABRAHAM LINCOLN BRIGADE: AMERICANS IN THE SPANISH CIVIL WAR, Peter N. Carroll, Stanford University Press, Stanford, California, 1994.

AS WE HEAD INTO THE 80TH ANNIVERSARY IN JULY OF THE BEGINNING OF THE SPANISH CIVIL WAR MILITANTS NEED TO STUDY THIS IMPORTANT EVENT OF INTERNATIONAL WORKING CLASS HISTORY. THE WRITER WILL BE REVIEWING AND COMMENTING ON SEVERAL ASPECTS OF THAT FIGHT FOR MILITANTS TODAY.


I have been interested, as a pro-Republican partisan, in the Spanish Civil War of 1936-39 since I was a teenager. My first term paper was on this subject. What initially perked my interest, and remains of interest, is the passionate struggle of the Spanish working class to create its own political organization of society, its leadership of the struggle against Spanish fascism and the romance surrounding the entry of the International Brigades, particularly the American Abraham Lincoln Battalion of the 15th Brigade, into the struggle.

Underlying my interests has always been a nagging question of how that struggle could have been won by the working class. The Spanish proletariat certainly was capable of both heroic action and the ability to create organizations that reflected its own class interests i.e. the worker militias and factory committees. Of all modern working class uprisings after the Russian revolution Spain showed the most promise of success. Russian Bolshevik leader Leon Trotsky noted in one of his writings on Spain that the Spanish proletariat at the start of its revolutionary period had a higher political consciousness than the Russian proletariat in 1917. That calls into question the strategies put forth by the parties of the Popular Front, including the Spanish Communist Party- defeat Franco first, and then make the social transformation of society. Mr. Carroll’s book while not directly addressing that issue nevertheless demonstrates through the story of the Abraham Lincoln Battalion how the foreign policy of the Soviet Union and through it the policy of the Communist International in calling for international brigades to fight in Spain aided in the defeat of that promising revolution.

Mr. Carroll chronicles anecdotally how individual militants were recruited, transported, fought and died as ‘premature anti-fascists’ in that struggle. No militant today, or ever, can deny the heroic qualities of the volunteers and their commitment to defeat fascism- the number one issue for militants of that generation-despite the fatal policy of the the various party leaderships. Such individuals were desperately needed then, as now, if revolutionary struggle is to succeed. However, to truly honor their sacrifice we must learn the lessons of that defeat through mistaken strategy as we fight today. Interestingly, as chronicled here, and elsewhere in the memoirs of some veterans, many of the surviving militants of that struggle continued to believe that it was necessary to defeat Franco first, and then fight for socialism. This was most dramatically evoked by the Lincolns' negative response to the Barcelona uprising of 1937-the last time a flat out fight for leadership of the revolution could have galvanized the demoralized workers and peasants for a desperate struggle against Franco.

Probably the most important part of Mr. Carroll’s book is tracing the trials and tribulations of the volunteers after their withdrawal from Spain in late 1938. Their organization-the Veterans of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade- was constantly harassed and monitored by the United States government for many years as a Communist 'front' group. Individuals also faced prosecution and discrimination for their past association with the Brigades. He also traces the aging and death of that cadre. In short, this book is a labor of love for the subjects of his treatment. Whatever else this writer certainly does not disagree with that purpose. If you want to read about what a heroic part of the vanguard of the international working class looked like in the 1930’s, look here. Viva la Quince Brigada!!

2 comments:

  1. Two Songs Of The Spanish Civil War: "Viva La Quince Brigada" And "El Paso Del Ebro"


    By Thomas Keyes
    Apr. 16, 2005

    “¡Viva La Quince Brigada!” (Long Live the Fifteenth Brigade!) and “El Paso del Ebro” (Crossing the Ebro) are two songs of the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) sung to the same melody. The original version of the song goes back to the time of the Napoleonic Wars, but I haven’t found the lyrics for that version. The lyrics of these two songs both pertain to the later war, since both mention aircraft. “¡Viva La Quince Brigada!” is also called “¡Ay, Manuela!”, while “El Paso del Ebro” is also called “¡Ay, Carmela!” “Manuela” and “Carmela” are women’s names.

    Unfortunately, the two audible versions that I was able to find on the Web are somewhat different from the song as I know it, and not as good in my opinion, but perhaps they are more authentic. I have known “¡Viva La Quince Brigada!” since the 1960’s, but to date have not learned “El Paso del Ebro”. I just like the music for its own sake and for its value as a souvenir of Spanish culture. I don’t take sides on the Spanish Civil War, because I don’t know much about it. Incidentally, the Ebro is a major river in the north of Spain. The Jarama, mentioned in the first song, is another river.

    I have provided my own translations, for those who cannot manage the very easy Spanish lyrics. Below are the URL’s for the music:

    http://idd003x0.eresmas.net/mp3/El%20Paso%20Del%20Ebro.mp3

    http://personales.ya.com/altavoz/midis/elpasodelebro.mid

    VIVA LA QUINCE BRIGADA (Spanish Lyrics)

    Viva la quince brigada,
    Rumba la, rumba la, rumba la,
    Viva la quince brigada,
    Rumba la, rumba la, rumba la,
    Que se ha cubierto de gloria.
    ¡Ay, Manuela! ¡Ay, Manuela!
    Que se ha cubierto de gloria.
    ¡Ay, Manuela! ¡Ay, Manuela!

    Luchamos contra los moros,
    Rumba la, rumba la, rumba la,
    Luchamos contra los moros,
    Rumba la, rumba la, rumba la,
    Mercenarios y fascistas.
    ¡Ay, Manuela! ¡Ay, Manuela!
    Mercenarios y fascistas.
    ¡Ay, Manuela! ¡Ay, Manuela!

    Solo es nuestro deseo,
    Rumba la, rumba la, rumba la,
    Solo es nuestro deseo,
    Rumba la, rumba la, rumba la,
    Acabar con el fascismo.
    ¡Ay, Manuela! ¡Ay, Manuela!
    Acabar con el fascismo.
    ¡Ay, Manuela! ¡Ay, Manuela!

    En los frentes de Jarama,
    Rumba la, rumba la, rumba la,
    En los frentes de Jarama,
    Rumba la, rumba la, rumba la,
    No tenemos ni aviones,
    Ni tanques, ti cañones.
    No tenemos ni aviones,
    Ni tanques, ti cañones.

    Ya salimos de España,
    Rumba la, rumba la, rumba la,
    Ya salimos de España,
    Rumba la, rumba la, rumba la,
    A luchar en otros frentes,
    ¡Ay, Manuela! ¡Ay, Manuela!
    A luchar en otros frentes,
    ¡Ay, Manuela! ¡Ay, Manuela!

    EL PASO DEL EBRO (Spanish Lyrics)

    El ejército del Ebro,
    Rumba la, rumba la, rumba la,
    El ejército del Ebro,
    Rumba la, rumba la, rumba la,
    Una noche el río paso.
    ¡Ay, Carmela! ¡Ay, Carmela!
    Una noche el río paso.
    ¡Ay, Carmela! ¡Ay, Carmela!

    Y a las tropas invasoras,
    Rumba la, rumba la, rumba la,
    Y a las tropas invasoras,
    Rumba la, rumba la, rumba la,
    Buena paliza les dio,
    ¡Ay, Carmela! ¡Ay, Carmela!
    Buena paliza les dio,
    ¡Ay, Carmela! ¡Ay, Carmela!

    El furor de los traidores,
    Rumba la, rumba la, rumba la,
    El furor de los traidores,
    Rumba la, rumba la, rumba la,
    Lo descarga su aviación.
    ¡Ay, Carmela! ¡Ay, Carmela!
    Lo descarga su aviación.
    ¡Ay, Carmela! ¡Ay, Carmela!

    Pero nada pueden bombas,
    Rumba la, rumba la, rumba la,
    Pero nada pueden bombas,
    Rumba la, rumba la, rumba la,
    Donde sobra corazón.
    ¡Ay, Carmela! ¡Ay, Carmela!
    Donde sobra corazón.
    ¡Ay, Carmela! ¡Ay, Carmela!

    Contraataques muy rabiosos,
    Rumba la, rumba la, rumba la,
    Contraataques muy rabiosos,
    Rumba la, rumba la, rumba la,
    Deberemos resistir.
    ¡Ay, Carmela! ¡Ay, Carmela!
    Deberemos resistir.
    ¡Ay, Carmela! ¡Ay, Carmela!

    Pero igual que combatimos,
    Rumba la, rumba la, rumba la,
    Pero igual que combatimos,
    Rumba la, rumba la, rumba la,
    Prometemos combatir.
    ¡Ay, Carmela! ¡Ay, Carmela!
    Prometemos combatir.
    ¡Ay, Carmela! ¡Ay, Carmela!

    VIVA LA QUINCE BRIGADA (English Translation)
    Long live the fifteenth brigade,
    Rumba la, rumba la, rumba la,
    Long live the fifteenth brigade,
    Rumba la, rumba la, rumba la,
    Which has covered itself with glory.
    ¡Ay, Manuela! ¡Ay, Manuela!
    Which has covered itself with glory.
    ¡Ay, Manuela! ¡Ay, Manuela!

    We are fighting against the Moors,
    Rumba la, rumba la, rumba la,
    We are fighting against the Moors,
    Rumba la, rumba la, rumba la,
    Mercenaries and fascists.
    ¡Ay, Manuela! ¡Ay, Manuela!
    Mercenaries and fascists.
    ¡Ay, Manuela! ¡Ay, Manuela!

    It’s our sole desire,
    Rumba la, rumba la, rumba la,
    It’s our sole desire,
    Rumba la, rumba la, rumba la,
    To be done with fascism.
    ¡Ay, Manuela! ¡Ay, Manuela!
    To be done with fascism.
    ¡Ay, Manuela! ¡Ay, Manuela!

    On the front lines of the Jarama,
    Rumba la, rumba la, rumba la,
    On the front lines of the Jarama,
    Rumba la, rumba la, rumba la,
    We have neither airplanes,
    Tanks nor cannon.
    We have neither airplanes,
    Tanks nor cannon.

    We’re already leaving Spain,
    Rumba la, rumba la, rumba la,
    We’re already leaving Spain,
    Rumba la, rumba la, rumba la,
    To fight on other fronts.
    ¡Ay, Manuela! ¡Ay, Manuela!
    To fight on other fronts.
    ¡Ay, Manuela! ¡Ay, Manuela!

    EL PASO DEL EBRO (English Lyrics)

    The army of the Ebro,
    Rumba la, rumba la, rumba la,
    The army of the Ebro,
    Rumba la, rumba la, rumba la,
    Crossed the river one night.
    ¡Ay, Carmela! ¡Ay, Carmela!
    Crossed the river one night.
    ¡Ay, Carmela! ¡Ay, Carmela!

    And to the invading troops.
    Rumba la, rumba la, rumba la,
    And to the invading troops.
    Rumba la, rumba la, rumba la,
    It gave a sound beating.
    ¡Ay, Carmela! ¡Ay, Carmela!
    It gave a sound beating.
    ¡Ay, Carmela! ¡Ay, Carmela!

    The fury of the traitors,
    Rumba la, rumba la, rumba la,
    The fury of the traitors,
    Rumba la, rumba la, rumba la,
    They discharge with their airplanes.
    ¡Ay, Carmela! ¡Ay, Carmela!
    They discharge with their airplanes.
    ¡Ay, Carmela! ¡Ay, Carmela!

    But bombs can do nothing,
    Rumba la, rumba la, rumba la,
    But bombs can do nothing,
    Rumba la, rumba la, rumba la,
    Where there’s a lot of heart.
    ¡Ay, Carmela! ¡Ay, Carmela!
    Where there’s a lot of heart.
    ¡Ay, Carmela! ¡Ay, Carmela!

    Very rabid counterattacks,
    Rumba la, rumba la, rumba la,
    Very rabid counterattacks,
    Rumba la, rumba la, rumba la,
    We will owe it to resist.
    ¡Ay, Carmela! ¡Ay, Carmela!
    We will owe it to resist.
    ¡Ay, Carmela! ¡Ay, Carmela!

    But as we have fought,
    Rumba la, rumba la, rumba la,
    But as we have fought,
    Rumba la, rumba la, rumba la,
    We promise to fight.
    ¡Ay, Carmela! ¡Ay, Carmela!
    We promise to fight.
    ¡Ay, Carmela! ¡Ay, Carmela!

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  2. Lyrics to Jarama Valley :

    by Woody Guthrie


    There’s a valley in Spain called Jarama
    It’s a place that we all know so well
    It was there that we fought against the Fascists
    We saw a peacful valley turn to hell

    From this valley they say we are going
    But don’t hasten to bid us adieu
    Even though we lost the battle at Jarama
    We’ll set this valley free 'fore we’re through

    We were men of the Lincoln Battalion
    We’re proud of the fight that we made
    We know that you people of the valley
    Will remember our Lincoln Brigade

    From this valley they say we are going
    But don’t hasten to bid us adieu
    Even though we lost the battle at Jarama
    We’ll set this valley free 'fore we’re through

    You will never find peace with these Fascists
    You’ll never find friends such as we
    So remember that valley of Jarama
    And the people that’ll set that valley free

    From this valley they say we are going
    Don’t hasten to bid us adieu
    Even though we lost the battle at Jarama
    We’ll set this valley free 'fore we’re through

    All this world is like this valley called Jarama
    So green and so bright and so fair
    No fascists can dwell in our valley
    Nor breathe in our new freedom’s air

    From this valley they say we are going
    Do not hasten to bid us adieu
    Even though we lost the battle at Jarama
    We’ll set this valley free 'fore we’re through
    [ Jarama Valley Lyrics on http://www.lyricsmania.com/ ]

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