International Brigades order of battle


The International Brigades were volunteer military units of foreigners who fought on the side of the Second Spanish Republic during the Spanish Civil War. The number of combatant volunteers has been estimated at between 32,000–35,000, though with no more than about 20,000 active at any one time. A further 10,000 people probably participated in non-combatant roles and about 3,000–5,000 foreigners were members of CNT or POUM. They came from a claimed "53 nations" to fight against the Spanish Nationalist forces led by General Francisco Franco and assisted by German and Italian forces.
The volunteers were motivated to fight on political or social grounds and made their way to Spain independently of the Spanish government. The brigades were not initially formally conceived and methodically recruited. Instead, they evolved as a means of organising the streams of volunteers arriving from every quarter of the world. It has been estimated that up to 25% of IB volunteers were Jewish. This article describes the order of battle of each of the International Brigades, describing the order and manner in which each brigade was mustered and formed, and following the progress of individual battalions throughout the conflict.

Introduction

Early International units

The first volunteers arrived in Spain in mid-August 1936. These were mostly Franco-Belgian, German, British and Italian. At first, they grouped themselves into sections, called Columns or Centuria. These were mostly formed in August/September 1936.

Brigade structure

Each brigade was a mixed brigade consisting of four battalions, sometimes with an ancillary specialist support company. They had a brigade commander and a political commissar, and a small brigade staff. Initially, the battalions were formed entirely of foreign volunteers but, increasingly, it became practice to have at least one Spanish battalion in each brigade. As time went on, and the difficulties of recruiting new international volunteers increased, the percentage of Spaniards went up. At first, these were volunteers but conscription was later introduced. The brigades were formally incorporated into the Spanish Army in September 1937, as Spanish Foreign Legion units.

Battalion structure

The battalions were originally organised by language, with volunteers sharing the same and given names that reflected the groups. To develop an esprit de corps, these names were replaced by names of inspirational figures or events, for example, Garibaldi, or Commune de Paris.
"Theoretically, the Battalion organisation consisted of the Battalion Commander, his Second in Command, the Political Commissar, the Adjutant and orderly room staff, three Companies of infantry, one machine-gun Company, Battalion scouts, and the Quartermaster and cookhouse staff. There were three platoons in each company, each divided into sections of ten men, so that the Battalion at full strength would number more than 500 men...."

Political commissars

''See article: Political commissar''

International brigade depots

XI International Brigade

Names:
Songs by Ernst Busch and the choir of the XI Brigade:
  • Or Ballade or Marsch der XI Brigade)
Detailed Order of Battle

Formation

Division "Kléber" ''(XI and XII Brigade 20 Nov.36 - 4 Feb 37 )''

  • Commander: General "Kléber"

XII International Brigade

Name: The Garibaldi Brigade
Detailed Order of Battle

Formation

Raised 22 October 1936 at Albacete, General "Lukàcs" commanding.

XIII International Brigade

Names: The Dabrowski Brigade, The Dombrowski Brigade
Detailed Order of Battle

1st formation

Raised: 12 December 1936

2nd formation

Reformed: 4 August 1937

3rd formation

Reformed : 1 October 1938

4th formation

Reformed: 23 January 1939

XIV International Brigade

Name: The Marseillaise Brigade
Order of Battle

Formation

Raised 20 December 1936 with volunteers mainly from France and Belgium, under General "Walter".
After the Battle of Brunete, brigade strength was reduced from four to two battalions. The battalions attached to this Brigade at different times were:

XV International Brigade

Order of Battle
  • Sub-battalion units attached to Brigade
  • *Connolly Column
  • *Brigade Anti-Tank Company
  • *XVth Brigade Photographic Unit
  • Re-organised May/June 1937, into two regiments:
  • *First regiment, commanded by George Nathan
  • ** Lincoln Bn, commanded by Robert Hale Merriman
  • ** Washington Bn, commanded by Mirko Markovic
  • ** British Bn, commanded by Fred Copeman
  • *Second regiment, commanded by Major "Chapaiev"
  • ** Dimitrov Battalion
  • ** Sixth February Battalion
  • ** Voluntario 24 Battalion
  • Post-Brunete, reinforced by:
  • * Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion
  • International Volunteers Demobilised
  • * Barcelona, 23 September 1938

Other International Brigades

86th Brigade

Raised 13 February 1938
  • Units that formed part of the Brigade at different times:
  • *Veinte Battalion

CXXIX / 129th Brigade

Name/s: Central European Brigade
Raised 13 February 1938
  • Units that formed part of the Brigade at different times:
  • *Dimitrov Battalion
  • *Djuro Djakovic Battalion
  • *Thomas Mazaryk Battalion
  • *Tschapaiew Battalion

CL / 150th Brigade

Name/s: Dabowski Brigade
Raised 27 May 1937
  • Units that formed part of the Brigade at different times:
  • *André Marty Battalion
  • *Mathis Rakosi Battalion

Ad hoc units

  • Agrupació Torunczyk
  • *Elements from XI, XIII and XV Brigades
Catalonia Offensive
  • Agrupació Szuster
  • *Elements from XII and CXXIX Brigades
Catalonia Offensive