Spanish Civil War

[Njiall]

First before anything is to excuse me by my deficient English but I will try to express the best than I can.

 

My intention is to post a brief history of the Spanish Civil War like introduction to data many less historical making reference to the performance of superhuman beings in the war.

 

I hope that it seems to you interesting

[Njiall]

Spanish Civil War:Before the war: 1931-1936

 

If some word can describe Spain in these years it is chaotic.

In the last 100 years Spain it had undergone a deep declivity. Being lost the overseas colonies (the last one was Cuba at the beginning of XX century) and having not known to adapt to the deep economic and social changes that the new century had brought, Spain happened to be a power to be a poor country.

 

 

In 1930 finish the dictatorship of Primo de Rivera, that had promoted to the power by a coup d'etat seven years before.

 

 

 

In the elections of 1931 the Republicans were chosen by ample majority reflecting the wish of progress of the people. The old king, Alfonso XIII leaves the country due to the lack of support: the low class see him like a symbol of the repression and the poverty of the country, the high class do not see in him a guarantee of his rights and all blame to him for the seven years of dictatorship.

 

The new government initiates a series of dangerous reforms: he gives the vote to the woman, initiates reforms in the field, the army… These reforms are too radical for the land and industry owners and officials of the army, but too slow and insufficient in opinion of the working-class. This creates a deep malaise in all the levels. This malaise causes scrambled and strikes by all the country. The rebellions were hardly repressed by army and the Civil Guard.

 

The military officers more openly rightist are moved away of the capital with the intention to move away the danger. This action percipitate the outcome since in the distance and in spite of the distances that separate to of others manage to organize the rise in arms of an ample sector of the army.

 

The rebels believed to be able to give a fast coup d'etat but they did not have the sufficient force and the resistance from the loyal ones to the Republic was far beyond the awaited. On the other hand the republicans believed to be able to squash any attempt of rebellion but they were mistaken. None of sides have the force sufficient to end the other quickly. What it had begun as a coup d'etat became a long and bloody civil war.

["V"]

Re: Spanish Civil War

 

I'm looking forward to this - it's not a situation I know very much about except by the accounts of people from other nations who got involved.

 

Plus I'm anticipating seeing some original Spanish superheroes... whenever US/UK authors write about superheroes from another country they tend to be horribly cliched based on the most prevalent stereotypes of that nation as seen from outside.

[Grimble]

Re: Spanish Civil War

 

Thank you for the altered history lesson and your english is actually pretty good. I can't wait for more.

 

Grimble

[SSgt Baloo]

Re: Spanish Civil War

 

Good stuff! Repped.

[assault]

Re: Spanish Civil War:Before the war: 1931-1936

 

Being lost the overseas colonies (the last one was Cuba at the beginning of XX century)

 

Nitpick: weren't the Spanish Sahara and Spanish Morocco still Spanish colonies at this time?

 

Aside from that: keep up the good work! This stuff could really rock.

[Supreme Serpent]

Re: Spanish Civil War:Before the war: 1931-1936

 

Nitpick: weren't the Spanish Sahara and Spanish Morocco still Spanish colonies at this time?

 

Aside from that: keep up the good work! This stuff could really rock.

 

Yes, in fact that's where Franco hopped off from. But those are pretty close to home, think his point was the far-flung empire that included South/Central America, Cuba, Philippines, etc. was kaput.

[Njiall]

Re: Spanish Civil War:Before the war: 1931-1936

 

Nitpick: weren't the Spanish Sahara and Spanish Morocco still Spanish colonies at this time?

 

Aside from that: keep up the good work! This stuff could really rock.

 

The overseas colonies, that incluian central America and south America (except exceptions like Brazil, French Guayana…)and the Philippines, were losing slowly during the previous centuries due to revolutions or treaties of independence.

The colonies of the Sahara and Morocco were very near and not overseas. Both were lost shortly after this time due the resistance of the Moroccans and the lack of interest to maintain both colonies.

In fact, still Spain has possessions in Africa (the Canary Islands, and the cities of Ceuta and Melilla although belong politically to Spain belong geographically to Africa)

[Njiall]

Re: Spanish Civil War:Before the war: 1931-1936

 

Yes' date=' in fact that's where Franco hopped off from. But those are pretty close to home, think his point was the far-flung empire that included South/Central America, Cuba, Philippines, etc. was kaput.[/quote']

 

That´s ok. General Franco, one of the heads of the coup d'etat, although not the main one, and that finalized the war become in dictator, raise in arms the soldiers in the African colonies. Between these soldiers were the Legion (colonial elite troops) and moroccan mercenary soldiers (famous during the war by their cruelty and thirst of blood they were used as shock and assault troops)

[Njiall]

An International Civil War

 

The Spanish Civil War was probably the most international of all the civil wars in the history and both sides have international support.

 

Spain: Facist testing field

 

The rise in arms of the most rightist wing of the army was supported by the European Fascist Regimes that they tried to increase the presence of fascist governments in Europe and to use Spain like testing field for their armies. The national (fascist) army was reinforced with German and Italian troops.

 

Hitler, due a suggestion of Herman Goering and with the clear intention to prove their new aerial tactics and their modern airplanes, sent an Air Force named Cóndor Legion. In it there were new models of airplane that passed in Spain their fire test. The German intervention in the Civil War allowed to improve the quality of its planes and to repair the defects of its aerial weapon, preparing it for the world-wide offensive that Hitler was planning. Also although in smaller number it supported to the facist rise with ground troops and military adviser as well as artillery and tanks. This way in Spain were test the tactics that years later would allow the German army to obtain fast and decisive victories in World War II.

On the other hand, the Duce sent numerous troops of infantry and tanks, as well as bomber airplanes. The national army did an extensive use of the Italian bombers although their troops of infantry were not appreciated and they stayed mostly in garrison tasks.

 

The International Brigades

 

Unlike the support of the fascist regimes most of the democratic countries denied their support to the Spanish Republic in spite of numerous requests of aid. France at the beginning of the war provide a slight support that was retired due the insistence of United Kingdom. Only the USSR and Czechoslovakia provide direct and real support. The rest of countries stayed in an not-intervention state thinking that opposing to Germany, World War II would precipitate. In those years some still thought that the Great War could be avoided.

 

Many volunteers of the countries that they did not want to take part in the war listed in the International Brigades with the conviction of which they fought by the freedom.

 

The International Brigades were units composed by foreign volunteers of 54 countries worldwide that fought next to the loyal army to the Spanish Republic. The original idea of the creation of the International Brigades appeared in Moscow in September 1936, where it was to catch communist and noncommunist volunteers to participate in support of the Spanish republicans in the war. At the beginning the government of the Republic was not decided to accept the aid but soon was evident that the Brigadistas was necessary. The first international battalion in entering into combat was the “Commune de Paris”, composed mainly of Belgian and French, commanded by Jules Dumont.

The international office of recruitment settled down in Paris under the direction of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and the French Communist Party. From the government the necessary documentation was transacted, it was made arrive thence at Paris and at the volunteers who, from all Europe, arrived via railroad at Albacete.

The mobilizations extended by all Europe, but in countries as Germany and Italy identified themselves like the first step to fight the fascism and emergent nazism in both states. The first brigadistas arrived the 14 from October of 1936. The first formed Brigades (XI, XII and XIII) were compound of French, Belgian, Italian and German voluntary. Within each brigade battalions constituted themselves, of members of the same nationality generally ensure communications between the members.

 

Altogether they got to participate 59,380 foreign brigadistas, of which 9,934 died, although in fact the total of militants was of 35,252, not having never more than 20,000 men altogether. The most numerous nationality was always the French, with a number near the 10,000 men, good part of them of the zone of Paris. The majority was not soldiers, but workers recruited by the communist parties voluntarily or veterans of World War I.

Its base was in Albacete. The Brigades participated in the defense of Madrid in 1936, the battles of the Jarama Guadalajara, Brunete, Belchite, Teruel, Aragón and the Ebro.

 

The International Brigades were retired in September of 1938 when their countries of origin forced to them to return, situation that many Brigadistas considered like a treason to the cause.

[Njiall]

International Brigades

 

XI BRIGADE

XI the Brigade was first in formally constituted the 22 of October of 1936 with three battalions: Edgar André, Commune de Paris and Garibaldi, supported by a Spanish battalion. Head of the Brigade was Manfred Stern first and Jean Marie François later.

1er Battalion “Edgar André”. German.

2º Battalion “Commune of Paris”. Belgian and French.

3er Battalion “Dabrowski”. Polonians, Hungarian, Yugoslav, 2 Paraguayans.

4º Battalion “Garibaldi”. Italian.

 

XII BRIGADE

XII the Brigade constituted the 1 of November of 1936 with the battalions Thaelman, André Marty and, from XI the Brigade, the Garibaldi. The Head of the Brigade was general Zalka Maté.

1er Battalion “Thaelmann”. German. Transferred later BrigadeXI.

2º Battalion “Garibaldi”. Italian.

3er Battalion “André Marty”. Belgian and French.

 

XIII BRIGADE

XIII the Brigade constituted the 1 of December of 1936 with the battalions Chapiaev, Henri Vuillemin and Lousie Michel. The head of the Brigade was Wilhelm Zaisser.

1er Battalion “Louise Michel”. Belgian and French.

2º Battalion “Chapiaev”. Of different Balkan countries.

3er Battalion “Henri Vuillemin”. French.

4º Battalion “Miskiewicz Palafox”. Polonian.

 

XIV BRIGADE

XIV the Brigade, to which it was known like the Marsellaise to be conformed by majority of French, was created the 1 of December of 1936. The Brigade was completely reorganized the 27 of November of 1938.

1er Battalion “Noves Nacions”. Transferred later to the “Commune of Paris”.

2º Battalion “Domingo Germinal”. Spanish and Portuguese anarchists.

3er Battalion “Henri Barbusse”. French

4º Battalion “Pierre Brachet”. French

 

XV BRIGADE

XV the Brigade formed the 31 of January of 1937 with the Dimitrov Battalions, 6 of February, Pierre Brachet (who transfer soon to XIV the Brigade), Briton, Lincoln and Washington. The Head of the Brigade was Janos Galiez

1er Battalion “Dimitrov”. Yugoslav. Transferred later to the 150 and later to the XIII.

2º British Battalion.

3er Battalion “Lincoln”, “Washington”, “Mackenzie-Papineau”. Canadian and Americans. Later was added te "Connolly Column" formed by a group of Irish.

4º Battalion “6 of February”. French. Transferred later Brigade XIV.

150 BRIGADE

Formed in June of 1937.

1er Battalion “Rakosi”. Hungarian.

 

129 BRIGADE

The 129 Brigade was constituted the 28 of April of 1937 with rest of battalions of other Brigades and members of the POUM. The different origin from its members took it to be well-known like the Brigade of the forty nations. The differences between the political forces and the conflict in Catalonia with the POUM made it little effective, having to be reorganized in February of 1938. Then Head of the Brigade to Wacek Komar.

1er Battalion “Masaryk”. Checoeslovacos.

2º Battalion “Dayachovitch”. Bulgarians.

3er Battalion “Dimitrov”. Of diverse Balkan countries.

[Njiall]

Lincoln Batallion

 

The Lincoln Batallion of the XV Brigade was one of the most destacated international batallions at the Civil War.

 

http://www.writing.upenn.edu/~afilreis/88/abe-brigade.html

 

 

[Tim]

Re: Spanish Civil War

 

Great read. I've studied some about it, but like the persective of a native.

 

And as this is the CHampions forum. I created a minor villian or reluctant hero character depending on how you want to take him.

 

El Toro Rojo (also El Diablo Rojo)

 

During the heighth of the Spanish Civil War, a young boy took refuge in the village church, along with his family and the rest of the local people, while fighting raged in the town as Republican forces fought advancing Fascist troops.

 

The young boy, not content to stay huddled with his family, explored around the sancuary, discovering an amulet with the image of a fiery bull and religious symbols on the face. The Village preist got to the boy as he pu tthe amulet on, and transformed into a devil with the features of a bull.

 

The boy was able to control the actions of the devil, and witht he advice of the preist, route the Fascist forces from the town, allowing the people to escape. The preist advised the boy, helping him stay in controla nd not fall to the promises and pleading of the devil.

El Toro Rojo fought with the Republican forces until near the end, then the boy and preist fled Spain for Mexico.

 

Once in Mexico, he could either become a national hero, or a self aggrandizing villian, depending on how you want ot use him.

 

While in the form of El Toro Rojo, the boy does not age, so he can be of any age the DM wishes.

 

El Toro Rojo posseses extreme strength and durability. And can issue blasts of fire if needed. He is very vulnerable to holy ground.

[Korvar]

Re: Spanish Civil War

 

Bonus points if anyone can integrate the fantasy elements from Pan's Labyrinth...

[Njiall]

Re: Spanish Civil War

 

It´s the Guillermo Del Toro´s film? I don´t seen it.

[Korvar]

Re: Spanish Civil War

 

Very recommended.

[st barbara]

Re: Spanish Civil War

 

Excellent film (saw it only recently). A Spanish Civil War with supers might be interesting. Would there be a super or two in the International Brigades ? With the Spanish Facists or would the Germans and Italians "try out" some of their supers in Spain ? If so how would other nations (The British, Americans and Russians) react ? Would this posibly lead to an accelerated search for super powered individuals in those countries ? Perhaps even starting World War II early and in Spain rather than in Poland !

[Njiall]

Re: Spanish Civil War

 

Excellent film (saw it only recently). A Spanish Civil War with supers might be interesting. Would there be a super or two in the International Brigades ? With the Spanish Facists or would the Germans and Italians "try out" some of their supers in Spain ? If so how would other nations (The British' date=' Americans and Russians) react ? Would this posibly lead to an accelerated search for super powered individuals in those countries ? Perhaps even starting World War II early and in Spain rather than in Poland ![/quote']

 

That is the idea. First I wanted to explain the “real” historical situation. The history of supers in the war continues with Der Dämmerungprojekt that I will post soon (I am reviewing and translating the text).

But I can be advancing that Germans, Italian and of other nationalities allied to the Axis helped the national forces and Czechoslovakian, Russian and other nationalities of the International Brigades helped the Republic.

 

Later I will describe characters like Cruzado, Bastión, El Azor or Estrella Roja.

[st barbara]

Re: Spanish Civil War

 

As we say in Australia "Njiall" "Good stuff mate ! Go for it !" I'm looking forward to seing what characters and situations you come up with (And then stealing them for my own use, modified of course !)

[Balabanto]

Re: Spanish Civil War

 

I really can't wait to see it.

[Njiall]

Spanish Civil War

 

This post continues with Der Dämmerungprojekt at Pulp Hero Forum