Odyssey of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade: Americans in the Spanish Civil War

by Peter N. Carroll

Book Overview

For over half a century, the history of the Abraham Lincoln brigade--the 2,800 young Americans who volunteered to fight for the Spanish Republic against General Francisco Franco's rebellion in 1936--has been shrouded in myth, legend, and controversy. Now, for the fist time, we have a comprehensive, objective, and deeply researched account of the brigade's experience in Spain and what happened to the survivors when they returned to the United States...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0804722773
• ISBN13: 9780804722773
• Release Date: April 1994
• Publisher: Stanford University Press
• Length: 460 Pages
• Weight: 1.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

An interesting book

I purchased this book as I recently found out that my uncle had served in the Abraham Lincoln Brigade. I did some other internet checking and pieced some of the story together. One story dealt with the men, the other the battles and others just not much of anything else. This one ties it all together.

America's "pre" Anti-Fascists

While in graduate school, I wrote my thesis on foreign volunteers who traveled to Spain to fight for the Republic. This book was a great aid in my research. It tells the story of Americans who went off to fight in the Abraham Lincoln Brigade. President Ronald Reagan said these men fought on the wrong side. Personally, I don't think so. You can read for yourself and decide. It is also a great book if you have any interests in the Spanish Civil War. Highly Recommened!

Those who forget history...

I sought this book out because over time, as an amateur historian, I have become fascinated by certain subjects and the Spanish Civil War is definitely one of them, not simply because of the clash of ideologies that were in full force, but because looking at it through the complete prism of the twentieth century one can understand why the SCW was a microcosm of what became the Second World War. It's like Spain was a petrie dish for the major powers to test out new methods of warfare, new technology, and new methods of propaganda.Since the causes of fascism and communism are equally repellant in this country, with perfect justification, it's interesting to read an account where the tendency is to route for neither side. I guess since the U.S. and U.S.S.R. were allies later on against the Nazis it makes it somewhat of an easier choice, but not when the evidence about the Party in America is revealed.Not really a complete overview, the book focuses much more on individuals and their personal stories which gives the book much more of a human quality to it. I would have liked a little more of the general history. It's a good read for a seriously overlooked event in modern times.

Superb account of American heroism

This extremely readable book tells the story of the 2,600 American volunteers who fought for the Spanish Republic in the years 1936 to 1938. They fought against Franco; they also fought against Hitler's and Mussolini's armies; they also fought against the Governments of Britain, France and the United States, which did so much to assist the forces of fascist aggression. "But the remarkable thing was that though fully conscious of the odds against us and though suffering staggering losses in long, drawn out gruelling campaigns, we all went back to the front time after time ... always with a belief in the possibility of victory." This was the testimony of Milton Wolff, the last commander of the Lincoln-Washington battalion. As Carroll wrote, "the Americans remained in action, constantly facing superior firepower. As in previous engagements, they demonstrated remarkable courage and stamina; they held difficult positions against overwhelming odds." They were finally withdrawn from Spain after the two-month Battle of the Ebro in late 1938: "the Americans under Wolff held fast and waited. They were still there when a relief column came to replace them; only then did they withdraw from the lines." Within the Republican forces, it was the Communists who fought longest and hardest against Franco. What is amazing is that they fought so well for so long against such odds, not that they lost. How could they have fought any better? If they had followed the line of revolution now, war later, Franco would surely have won more quickly and easily. This approach would have lost them the support of those in Spain who wanted the Republic but were not yet ready for revolution. This approach would have made support or even genuine neutrality from other Governments even less likely. It would have increased the intensity of German, Italian, British, French and US Government support for Franco. It is quite possible that the British, French and US Governments would have abandoned even the pretence of neutrality and joined in the attack on Spain, just as they had in 1918-1922 when they jointly attacked the Soviet Union. The British, French and US Governments used Hitler and Mussolini as their hired goons to attack Spain, just as they tried to use them later to attack the Soviet Union. (And just as they now use other goons in other countries.) In June 1940 when Roosevelt accused Mussolini of stabbing France in the back, former brigade commissar John Gates replied truly, "It was you who stabbed Republican Spain in the back. It was you, and the British and French rulers, who provided Mussolini with the dagger that he has now proceeded to plunge into your own backs." When the Brigade left, La Pasonaria spoke: "We shall not forget you and when the olive tree of peace puts forth its leaves again, entwined with the laurels of the Spanish Republic's victory - come back! ... Come back to us. With us those of you who have no country will find one, those of you who have to live depr

An Excellent look at The Abraham Lincoln Brigade

Before reading Mr. Carroll's gripping book about the Abraham Lincoln Brigade I knew nothing about this group of brave individuals. Many right-wingers would like to have the public believe that the Abraham Lincoln Brigade did not exist at all, or rather that their role was minimal at best in the Spanish Civil War. Mr. Carroll presents us with an introduction to the Abraham Lincoln Brigade, its members, their beliefs, and conflicts. In essence, it is a personal look at people who fought in a vicious war. Too often war and the passing of time has allowed certain events and people to be forgotten. Now, thanks to Mr. Carroll, the "Odyssey of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade" will expose the adventures of these brave people to a new generation. It was not easy to make a decision to join the Abraham Lincoln Brigade in the years leading up to World War II. Some of the members faced hostility upon their return to the United States. Mr. Carroll's book is full of informative and detailed explanations on the Brigade. I learned quite a bit from this book and I would like to thank Mr. Carroll for writing this book. It is important that the Abrahma Lincoln Brigade never be forgotten.