During the Spanish Civil War, thousands of men and women from dozens of countries around the world immigrated to our country to fight against fascism. Many of them were communist militants organized by different parties that existed in Europe at the time. Others were anarchists who admired the achievements of the libertarian movement, especially in Catalonia and Aragon. And others, because they were too, were democrats who could not tolerate the triumph of authoritarianism in another European country.
We must remember that in 1936 Italy and Germany were dictatorial regimes that often punished those who opposed the political and social measures imposed by the respective leader: Duce Benito Mussolini and Adolf Hitler in Italy. The Führer is in Germany.
Moreover, in the latter country, not only political dissidents but also, as is well known, large numbers of people were prosecuted for their sexual orientation, religion or ethnic or family origin. In concentration camps, each was identified by a different colored triangle. Pink for gays; purple for Jehovah’s Witnesses; brown for gypsies; and yellow, a triangle more like a Star of David for the Jews.
None of this came as a surprise, because The Nazis had made their intentions clear from the start. The first law limiting the rights of Jews was the Public Administration Restoration Act, passed in April 1933, which recognized the expulsion of Jews from government. After that, others were approved that excluded them from certain professions or limited the number of Jewish students in schools and universities. And two years later, in September 1935, the so-called “Nuremberg Laws” prohibited them from marrying or having sexual relations with “persons of German blood” and deprived them of most of their political rights. A prelude to the terror that is to come.
It’s no secret that Hitler supported Franco in the “crusade” and that Nazi Germany sent men and war material to the aid of the rebels. It is also said that the development of the competition would not have been the same had it not been for German intervention. And in July 1936 the most experienced troops available to the rebels were in Africa, but Franco did not have planes to transport them to the peninsula. Therefore, after some deliberation, the Führer decided to send him twenty Junkers Ju-52s to be used for this purpose in the following weeks.
All this resulted in hundreds of Jews from various places. He decided to come to Spain to fight for the Republic. or rather, against the rebels supported by those who want to destroy them. It is estimated that there were about five thousand men and women scattered across the many units that make up the International Brigades. Despite its importance, there is one in particular that little is said about: The Botwin Company, also known as the Botwin Jewish Unit.
The exact number of warriors who were part of it is unknown. Some speak of eighty, and others say that there are almost one hundred and fifty. What is known is that they first intervened on the Extremadura front; then in Aragón, at the battle of Belchite; and finally, at the famous battle of the Ebro, to which Lluís Companys, President of the Generalitat of Catalonia, dedicated a few words to them.
They came to create their own newspaper in Yiddish, six issues of which were published. And his courage was appreciated on all fronts. They say they are known as “red devils”.
Unfortunately most of them are dead. And later history managed to forget their names. But it’s never too late to remember. So let’s raise our glasses to them today and proudly shout their names.
Alter Szerman, Karol Gutman, Jasza Zawidowicz, Moishe Rozenberg, Yosef Lipsman, Shamuel Shlosberg.
In the words of Bertolt Brecht, they were indispensable.