Forgotten Heros of the Lincoln Battalion

[Cd.]

There's a valley in Spain called Jarama
It's a place that we all know so well;
It was there that we gave of our manhood
Where so many of our brave comrades fell.

We are proud of the Lincoln Battalion
And the fight for Madrid that it made,
There we fought like true sons of the people
As part of the Fifteenth Brigade.

We're the men of the Lincoln Battalion
And we're proud of the stand that we made
For we know that the people of the valley
Will remember the American Brigade

From this valley they say we are going
Do not hasten to bid us adieu
For though we've lost the battle for Jarama
We'll set this valley free

You will never find peace with the fascists
You will never know friends such as we
So remember the battle for Jarama
And the people who will set that valley free

There's a valley in Spain called Jarama
Its a place that we all know right well
For it's there that we fought with the fascists
And saw that pleasant valley turn to Hell

Now we're far from that valley of sorrow,
But its mem'ry we'll never forget,
In the midst of the struggles around us
Let's remember our glorious dead.


Spanish Civil War song, sung to the tune of Red River Valley.
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/SPlincoln.htm
http://www.english.upenn.edu/~afilre...e-brigade.html

In 1936 as the nation of Spain was torn by a violent civil war which pitted Fascism against a Socialist dominated republic, thousands of volunteers from around the world rallied to the Republican cause. Many of these thousands came from the United States. Orginized by the Communist Party of the United States, it included leftists of all description whose goal was to fight Fascism. The average age of this group was 19. Many of these volunteers were students of american colleges and universities. Others were tradesmen, working people and a few professional soldiers. Their leader was Mathew Marriman, who held the rank of Major in the Spanish Republican Army.

The war they fought was a brutal one. It was fought in rough terrain under terrible conditions. Food, cloathing and medicine were in short supply. The fought in the Madrid front, successfully defending the Spanish capital from Franco's onslaught.

The price paid by the volunteers was terrible when compared to other US wars. One third of the men were killed in battle. Others were wounded or captured. (To be a prisoner in this war very often meant death in very horrible ways. The Nationalist army of Franco were notoriously cruel to their prisioners).

The Lincoln Battalion and the International Brigade were withdrawn at the end of 1938 as part of an agreement. This was roughly a half year before the Republicans were overrun by Franco. The reception they received was far from friendly. Upon return, many veterins were blacklisted as Communists. When WW 2 broke out, they were not allowed to advance beyond the rank of private and were restricted from foreign duty. Some veterins hid their involvment with the group however.

[FaDeThEBuTcHeR]

Is it not ironic that a brigade named after Abraham Lincoln of all people, a fascist, was sent to fight fascism?

[Cd.]

Originally posted by FaDeThEBuTcHeR
Is it not ironic that a brigade named after Abraham Lincoln of all people, a fascist, was sent to fight fascism?

I wouldnt say that Lincoln was a Fascist because the concept of Fascism did not exist at that time. He certainly was a bit of a racist but probibly no more than any other politician of his age.