The Canadian Military Heritage Project - Spanish Civil War. Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion of the XVth International Brigade of the Spanish Republican Army. Find your military ancestors and learn their history.

SPANISH CIVIL WAR

The Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) was a military rising originating in Morocco, headed by General Francisco Franco.

Over twelve hundred Canadian soldiers supporting Republican Spain took part in the Spanish Civil War to defend the Spanish Republic against the military rebellion led by General Franco and aided by Hitler and Mussolini. These men created a unique military unit: the Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion of the XVth International Brigade of the Spanish Republican Army: 'the Mac-Paps.'

The Abraham Lincoln Brigade (The Lincolns) fought alongside approximately 35,000 anti-fascists from fifty-two countries. In keeping with Popular Front culture, the Americans named their units the Abraham Lincoln Battalion, the George Washington Battalion, and the John Brown Battery. Together with the British, Irish, Canadian, and other nationals they formed the Fifteenth In- ternational Brigade.

The International Brigade consisted of, for example, US volunteers in the Abraham Lincoln Battalion, German volunteers in the Thaelmann Battalion, and Canadians in the MacKenzie-Papineau Battalion. The International Brigades were 40,000 strong coming from 52 countries

When the Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion arrived in Spain it was incorporated into the Abraham Lincoln Battalion. Later it became part of the 15th International Brigade.

The battalion first saw action at Fuentes de Ebro on 13th October 1937. In this offensive 60 were killed and 200 were wounded. The Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion also took part in the battles at Teruel in December 1937 and Ebro in July 1938. By the end of the Spanish Civil War almost half of the Canadian volunteers had been killed.

Some 16,000 gave their lives fighting fascism. The contingents were approximtely

France, 10,000
Germany, 5,000
Poland, 4,000
Italy, 3,500
U.S. and Britain, 2,500 each
Belgium, 1700
Czechoslovakia, 1,500
Canada, 1,200
Yugoslavia, 1,200
Latin America, 1,000
Hungary, 1,000
Scandinavia, 1,000
Holland, 600
Switzerland, 400

An International Non-Intervention Committee, and the Foreign Enlistment Act prohibiting travel to Spain cut down on relief troops for the International Brigade. In October 1938 the International Brigade was withdrawn from combat and disbanded. The financial problem of getting home to Canada was solved by two private citizens.

Search the roster of Canadians in the MacKenzie Papineau Battalion

Visit Other Sites

Overview
Timeline
House of Commons Private Members Business MACKENZIE-PAPINEAU BATTALION
Selected Reading List Brandeis University Libraries
Posters
Canadians in the Spanish Civil War
Abraham Lincoln Brigade (includes info on Canadian participation)
Abraham Lincoln Brigade Archives
International Brigades
The Spanish Revolution & Civil War
Spanish Civil War Index from Canadian Forces College
Spanish Civil War Collections at University of Toronto National Library of Canada Special Collections
Memorials for the Mac-Paps
The Spanish Revolution & Civil War

Read the Books

CANADIAN VOLUNTEERS: Spain, 1936-1939 by W.C. Beeching
The Gallant Cause - Canadians in the Spanish Civil War, 1936 - 1939 Mark Zuehlke

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SPANISH CIVIL WAR

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