Franco's International Brigade: Adventurers, Fascists, and Christian Crusaders in the Spanish Civil War

by Christopher Othen

Foreign volunteers fought on behalf of General Franco and the Nationalists in the Spanish Civil War for a right-wing cause whose aim was to smash democracy. These assorted adventurers, fascists, and Catholic crusaders were on the winning side, but their role has remained strangely hidden until now. Men from Portugal and Morocco signed on for money and adventure. General Eoin O'Duffy organised 700 Irishmen in a modern Crusade; 500 Catholic Frenchmen fought in the "Jeanne D'Arc" unit; and thirty British volunteers, including aristocrats and working-class fascists, also took up arms. Romanian Iron Guard extremists died at Majadahonda and an Indian volunteer fought in the fascist militia. There were Russians, Americans, Finns, Belgians, Greeks, Cubans, and many more. Goose-stepping alongside the volunteers were fascist conscripts from Germany and Italy, in training for the next world war. Foreigners, whether unknown individuals like British pilot Cecil Bebb or infamous figures like the German dictator Adolf Hitler, were essential to Franco's victory. Without Bebb--who flew General Francisco Franco from the Canary Islands to Spanish Morocco in 1936, a journey which was to precipitate the onset of the Spanish Civil War--the war would never have started; without Hitler, Franco would never have won.

Genres: History, Spain, Spanish Civil War, Nonfiction, War, Politics, Military Fiction

240 pages, Paperback

First published December 4, 2008

About the author

Christopher Othen is an English writer currently based in Eastern Europe. His day jobs have included journalist, legal representative for asylum seekers, and English language teacher.

In off-the-clock adventures he has interviewed retired mercenaries about war crimes, discussed lost causes with political extremists, and got drunk with an ex-mujahid who knew Osama Bin Laden.

Reviews

[Shrike58 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Of late, I've been conducting a purge of various TBR lists, as the books keep on coming and anything that's been hanging fire for more than five years is arguably not that relevant. I'm glad that I made an exception for this book, as it answered questions that I didn't realize I had, such as that many Moroccans fought for Franco out of the sense that they might be fighting for independence. Besides that, apart from the German Legion Condor and the Italian CTV, the "meta" issue that Othen winds up tracing is how the foreign anti-communist volunteers had their own journey of disillusionment that is comparable to the experiences of those who fought in the International Brigades, as the parallel revolutions consumed their young. Ultimately, though they couldn't have realized it at the time, many of those who thought they were involved in a crusade against International Communism came to bad ends in Hitler's great war of conquest.

[Monty Milne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This fascinating book did a good job of answering what for me has always been one of the most puzzling aspects of the Spanish Civil War: why did so many Moroccans fight for Franco? The facile response of some Republicans – they were mercenaries, and colonial exploitation of their country left them little other choice – always seemed to me inadequate. For sure, the money was important – but there were plenty of other reasons too. This included the racism expressed in print by many Republican journalists (the Communist Philip Toynbee being one of the most egregious), the effect caused by the Republican terror bombing of Moroccan civilians in Tetuan, or simply the desire to kill Spaniards in revenge for the horrors of the Rif war (even if to do so meant fighting alongside those Spaniards who had actually participated in that campaign).

There is still of course a strange inconsistency in Franco using the language of “crusade” for a war against the anti-catholic excesses of the Republicans, and using Muslim Moroccans as his favourite shock troops. Even stranger is the revelation that the Moroccans often wore sacred heart medallions as good luck charms.

Other curiosities were the Jews who fought for Franco. Not many, it is true – but then Spain contained hardly any Jews at this time anyway. The Condor Legion and the Italians are fully covered, as are all the other exotic volunteers – from Romanian Iron Guards to Irish Blue Shirts to English conservatives like Peter Kemp. The International Brigades on the Republican side have garnered most interest and study, but to anyone with an interest in the conflict this is a fascinating view from the other side. I think it is reasonably balanced too – especially because it makes one reflect on how much writing about Europe in the 1930’s is not (compare, for example, the bombing of Guernica – which everyone has heard about – with the Stavisky Affair – which I have never seen mentioned in any school text book).

[Liam Ostermann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a marvelous book for anyone interested in and with a knowledge of the Spanish Civil War. If you are coming to the subject with out any previous reading then there is still much to gain and enjoy in this book but it is not a history of Spain's Civil War and doesn't pretend to be - and is all the better for it. Mr. Othen's examination of those who fought for Franco are fascinating as are his exposition of the ways that Franco's 'International' brigades differed from those fighting for the Republic.

Although Franco had, and relied heavily on, outside support it was in the form of units, as well as material, from the German and Italian armies and his Moroccan 'volunteers' all of which were either, as in the case of the German and Italian contingents already trained soldiers and airmen in established military formations, or as with the Moroccans, trained, outfitted and officered and incorporated into Franco's army. Except for the farcical Irish Brigade of 700 men led by Eoin O'Duffy (please see footnote one below) Franco resolutely turned down all offers of help from enthusiastic, but untrained, unarmed, and under financed right wing anti-Bolshevik volunteers from throughout Europe. This didn't prevent many enthusiasts from England, France, Belgium, Romania, Finland and elsewhere coming to Spain to join his 'crusade'. But Franco never had, nor wanted, an organization comparable to that of the Communist party in recruiting, arming and forging into military formation the many, disparate, working class volunteers from across Europe and America into fighting brigades for the Republican side. Franco was to intent on building his position of dominance in readiness for what would happen when he won the war to allow any competing sources of power. He also recognised that many of the volunteers who wanted to join his 'crusade' were of little military value - certainly it is hard to imagine that many of the Russian White army soldiers, after over fifteen years in exile and most now over 40 years old, would have justified the cost of their travel and out fitting costs.

Mr. Othen's book is full of wonderful stories from various individuals who fought for Franco and the resurrection of their forgotten memoirs and books is to be welcomed but they are a curiosity, not a rival to the Republic's overseas volunteers. Whether you want to admit it or not those who sided with Franco made the wrong choice - or at least as far as I am concerned they did. For all the Republic's faults and failures they are minor compared to the shoddy self interest of Franco's supporters. If in doubt I strongly recommend you begin a further exploration of the Spanish Civil War via Paul Preston's 'The Spanish Holocaust'.

Footnote 1: Eoin O'Duffy and his 700 Irishmen who went to Spain to fight communism is a wonderful tale but beyond the scope of this review. Aside from checking out Wikipedia I strongly recommend Fearghal McGarry's 'Eoin O'Duffy: A Self Made Hero' and Robert Stradling's 'The Irish and the Spanish Civil War 1936-1939' (which covers both O'Duffy's legion and the Irish Brigade which fought for the Republican side).

[Zare · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book on Spanish Civil War and little known foreign volunteers (or better said volunteers outside Condor Legion, Italian Fascists and Spanish Foreign Legion), their motivation and finally how they ended up in life (post civil war and post WW2). It shows Franco enjoyed great popularity in the west (that was feared by rise of the Red's) and that many were willing to give their lives fighting for Franco's cause - or walk over their compatriots bodies to achieve their own goals of personal glory.
Book gives a great insight into behind-the-scenes manipulations of Franco's volunteers and how he used them to forward his goals and discard them at the first opportunity when they were of no further use.

1917 October revolution and events after it, rise of Stalin's despotism and oppression in the Europe's east gave rise to equally terrifying fascism and nazism on Europe's west but with one big difference - for majority of Western Hemisphere in the beginning nazism/fascism was publicly ignored at worst [heavy resistance to it will come later]. These ideologies were seen as defenders of everything that Bolsheviks were against (and what was held dear by wealthy in all countries endangered by Stalin's encroachment). Impoverished on the other hand sought refuge in Stalin's ideas and enrolled into fighting fascism/nazism but soon figured out that they were just used by Stalin's regime - nevertheless they continued fighting for the very ideal until finally betrayed by Stalin at the end of Spanish civil war. Very same thing Franco did to his volunteers.

It took WW2 to push all the tyrants into same basket - Stalin and his henchmen, Franco, Mussolini's Fascists and Hitler's Nazis and all the other oppression regimes. But still hysteria of menace-from-the-east (or menace-from-the-west for the Russians) remains alive and this provides means for revival and consolidation of very dangerous ideologies even today.

Clash of ideas started in 1917, sent tremors in 1936 and finally shook the world from 1939-1945 but still remains in hearts and minds of millions. And unfortunately tensions are still very much alive and used by politicians to stir the hearts of those that will pay for the politicians mistakes. Hope remains that people will get smart [although history does not back this with many examples].

Highly recommended.

[Dave McCracken · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating. Superb telling of a little known aspect of the Spanish Civil War. Christopher Othen brings to life the lives of heroes and scoundrels who joined the Nationalists motivated by a host of reasons. The cast of characters is truly better than fiction could conjure. Inspired or misled adventurers gravitated from all points of the globe to the Nationalist cause.
The author delivers these stories succinctly during the civil war and brilliantly describes the protagonists ultimate fates during the Second World War and beyond.

[Benjamin Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is fairly well written, and also written from an objective point of view. Many Spanish civil war books are coloured by individual sympathies that detract from the story. This one does not. A very good overview of the characters who helped fill in the experience and numbers of the Nationalist forces. A bit more detail for some of the individuals would be nice, but understandably details and records for some may not exist.

[Philip Bolger · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good companion to anyone learning about the Republic's International Brigades, Mr. Othen's work on the foreign soldiers who fought for Franco is also good. My only disappointment is that the work chose to focus overwhelmingly on the individual soldiers, without necessarily explaining the context of the broader war, or why certain tools or systems were important to the military art.

[Bobby Daugherty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of brief mentions of names of people i had never heard of before that fought in this war. Interesting primer for the war. Oddly enough most Fascist did not want members going to Spain to serve in this war, but there were unlimited funds to send people to fight on the side of the communist.

[Kristian Strauss · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit of a dry read as the book goes over the multitude of different far right volunteers who sided with franco from across the world during the 1930s

[Chiara · Rating 4 out of 5]

another interesting lil read

[Stuart · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book about bad people

[David McClure · Rating 4 out of 5]

Starting with the 1938 classic “A Homage to Catalonia” there has been a steady stream of books on the Spanish civil war with many - like George Orwell’s - focusing on the role of foreign volunteers fighting for the Republicans. In “Franco’s International Brigades” Christopher Othen tries to rectify this imbalance by turning the spotlight on of those foreigners who flew the Nationalist flag.

Illuminating a rogue’s gallery of adventurers, renegades and rightwing head bangers, the book contains many fascinating details about Franco’s foreign legion. Moroccan volunteers were vital in the early days of the failed coup to keep the rebellion alive; then up to 80,000 Italians waded in to capture (and administer) Majorca for the Nationalists; and later 700 Irish came to the party in a spirit of co-Catholicism, although they left early after failing to show the requisite military discipline. The coup de grace came from Germany’s Condor Legion which infamously bombed Guernica

Anyone who has written on the Spanish Civil war will recognise the danger of drowning in the alphabet soup of the myriad initials of political parties (POUM /PSOC/PSE) and the author deserves credit for not getting bogged down in the intricacies of Spanish factionalism and keeping the narrative flowing. The book is always readable written in an accessible, almost breezy style although perhaps one did not need to be reminded that Mussolini was “granite-jawed” or Hitler had a “toothbrush moustache.”

Although the command of the multi-sourced material is impressive, a better blue pencil might have amended a few slips of the pen. The occupation of the Rhineland was of course in 1936 and not 1935, British Airways (referred to by name in 1936) was not established until 1974 and George Orwell who “abandoned upper crust life” in Britain for Spain was actually living in a primitive rural cottage with no electricity or proper plumbing.

Nevertheless, this is an interesting story well told with considerable wit and erudition which merits a wider readership.

[MrBReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're anything like me, even your love for history is not enough to stop many history books from dragging on at an unforgivably slow pace... Thankfully this one was different!
Aside from one awkward statistic of 600,000 Republicans lost at a single battle at Teruel (I can only imagine and hope that this was an unrecognised typo!), I found this book absolutely fascinating.
It tells the story of several volunteers for Franco's Nationalists during the Spanish Civil War, their reasons for going and their subsequent experiences. I wrote my University Dissertation on the BUF response to the Spanish Civil War, and so was fully aware that there is little material, at least in English, regarding these men and women. Othen manages to tell their exhilarating stories in a way that does not read like a dull, drab academic exercise, but as a fast-paced and exciting collection of stories that seamlessly interweave. The book also contains an overview of the conflict, told effortlessly through the many stories that Othen records.
It is right that in amongst the many works on the International Brigades this work exists to tell the stories of those who fought, for many different reasons, on the side of the victorious Francoist army.
And as a final side-note, it irks me when Franco's regime is labelled as 'Fascist' - this book does a great service to the historiography of the SCW period by highlighting just how complex the conflict was and I would thoroughly recommend it to anyone who has an interest and a basic understanding of this fascinating and vitally important bloody Civil War.

[James Kitchener · Rating 5 out of 5]

When the Spanish Civil War broke out in 1936 the symapthies of the world were with the Spanish Republic under attack from Fascist rebels. Forty thousand foreigners went to fight for the Republic in the International Brigades. They lost the war, but remain heroes. What I didn't know until I read 'Franco's International Brigades' was that twice as many fought for the other side.

This book is genuinely fascinating. Although I knew Nazi Germans were sent by Hitler and Italians by Mussolini to help Spanish Fascist dictator Francisco Franco I didn't realise that thousands of Morrocans, Portuguese, Russians, French, Irish, British, Americans, Norwegians, Poles etc also volunteered.

'Franco's International Brigades' tells the stories of all foreigners on the Fascist side. Not all of them were actually Facsists, some were Catholics or rightwing or just adventurers. A British man called Peter Kemp gets a lot of attention in the book and seems to have genuinely been a conservative who hated Fascism! On the other hand out and out Nazis like Norwegian Per Imerslund also volunteered.

The book tells the story of the Spanish Civil War through the eyes of the foreigners and is a good read, more adventure thriller than dry history. I liked it a lot although thought there should have been more on some nationalities eg. on Poland and South America. Despite that it was eye opening and interesting.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much is written on the International Brigades of the Republican forces but little to nothing on those of the Nationalists. Mr. Othen address that lacuna in a fair and balanced manner. The book is primarily organized by nationality of the volunteers and you need some understanding of the conflict to follow as the chronology is not continuous. Most interestingly, the author gives a lot of information on the politics of the originating states to explain the cause and nature of the complex involvement of "volunteer participants" on both sides. An overall excellent read.

[JJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Admittedly, I knew little about the Spanish Civil War other than what I had read at school of George Orwell. But this book has injected some long-overdue substance into my dinner table bluff. I won’t be competing on Mastermind any time soon, but I have a greater understanding of the complexities of the civil war with regard to the foreign volunteers who fought on the Nationalist side, and on a lighter note I now know my white émigrés from my Trotsky house-raiding Norwegian Nazis. An interesting and important addition to civil war study.

[Susan Ottaway · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having read Hemingway’s For Whom the Bell Tolls as a teenager I have always had an interest in the Spanish Civil war so was looking forward to reading this book. I wasn’t disappointed. It is an extremely interesting account of the foreign volunteers who threw in their lot with General Franco’s Nationalists. The author’s style is easy to read and the book has given me a much clearer picture of this side of the conflict.

[Coffee & books · Rating 1 out of 5]

Poorly researched. It mentions that José Calvo Sotelo's killers were caught and imprisoned when in fact the reality is very very different. If this, well known fact is misdescribed and misrepresented, how much attention could I place in what's mentioned in the rest of the book.

a clear DNF for me

[Beth Willis · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent account of a story I'd never come across before, a hidden aspect of the Spanish Civil War.