History of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade
History of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade
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Americans in the Spanish Civil War
Americans in the Spanish Civil War
In 1936, a civil war ensued in Spain as a result of an unsuccessful right-wing military coup by Spanish generals against a democratically elected left-wing government. For three years, the Spanish people fought to preserve their Republic from the forces of international fascism, reaction, landed gentry, and big industry in a war between Spanish Republicans and Spanish "Nationalists". Over 40,000 foreign volunteers joined the International Brigades and fought on the side of the Spanish Republic. 3,000 Americans were among the foreign volunteers and formed the Abraham Lincoln Brigade. This unit fought in the key battles of Jarama, Belchite, Teruel, and the Ebro. Of the 3,000 Americans, around 1,000 gave their lives in defense of the Spanish Republic.
World War II
The Spanish Republic lost the Civil War in 1939, and the people of Spain endured a 40-year fascist dictatorship under Francisco Franco. Around 800 veterans of the Lincoln Brigade later fought in World War II and served in the US Armed Forces. These veterans served on every front from North Africa, Europe, to the Pacific. Many went on to achieve officer ranks, several awards, commendations, and other honors, despite facing official discrimination due to their service in Spain.
McCarthyism and the Cold War
During the Cold War, despite these Americans' service to the US Armed Forces and proven anti-fascist record, they were targeted by the US Government via the FBI and J. Edgar Hoover. Veterans who fought in Spain were painted as subversives, denied social security, pensions, jobs, political freedoms, and even burial rights at Arlington Cemetery until the late 1960s. It wasn't until the 1990s that a Black-American member of the Brigade received a posthumous Medal of Honor. The history of these men's service in Spain and in World War II, as a result, has been ignored by mainstream American history. The task of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade National Cemetery Memorial Group is to play a small role in righting this injustice.
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