Yugoslav volunteers in the Spanish Civil War

You can help expand this article with text translated from the corresponding article in Spanish.  (March 2012) Click [show] for important translation instructions.

* View a machine-translated version of the Spanish article.
* Machine translation, like DeepL or Google Translate, is a useful starting point for translations, but translators must revise errors as necessary and confirm that the translation is accurate, rather than simply copy-pasting machine-translated text into the English Wikipedia.
* Do not translate text that appears unreliable or low-quality. If possible, verify the text with references provided in the foreign-language article.
* You must provide copyright attribution in the edit summary accompanying your translation by providing an interlanguage link to the source of your translation. A model attribution edit summary is `Content in this edit is translated from the existing Spanish Wikipedia article at [[:es:Brigadistas yugoslavos en la Guerra Civil Española]]; see its history for attribution.`
* You may also add the template `{{Translated|es|Brigadistas yugoslavos en la Guerra Civil Española}}` to the talk page.
* For more guidance, see Wikipedia:Translation.

|

Yugoslav volunteers fighting in Spain, 1937. President of Yugoslavia Josip Broz Tito meeting with representatives of the Association of Former Yugoslav Spanish Fighters in 1972.

The Yugoslav volunteers in the Spanish Civil War, known as Spanish fighters (Croatian: Španjolski borci, Slovene: Španski borci, Serbian: Шпански борци / Španski borci) and Yugoslav brigadistas (Spanish: brigadistas yugoslavos), was a contingent of volunteers from the Kingdom of Yugoslavia that fought for the Republicans (in support of the Second Spanish Republic) during the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939).

An estimated 1,664[1] "Yugoslav brigadistas" fought in the war, including about 800 who were killed in action. According to Spanish statistics, 148 Yugoslav volunteers received the officer rank during the conflict.

Most of them fought in the battalions Dimitrov and Đuro Đaković of the International Brigades, and many of them participated and perished during the Battle of Ebro in 1938. They were recruited by the outlawed Communist Party of Yugoslavia (KPJ) in their home regions, or through the recruitment centre of the Comintern that Josip Broz Tito managed in Paris. There were four airmen among the volunteers, the most notable being fighter pilot Božidar "Boško" Petrović who attained the status of "flying ace."

After the war, those who managed to flee across the Pyrenees fell captive in internment camps in France, with many being repatriated illegally by the Yugoslav communist organisation. Some of them later became leaders of the resistance against the Nazi occupation.

Three former members of the International Brigades ended up commanding armies of the Yugoslav Partisans during World War II: Peko Dapčević (1913–1999), Kosta Nađ (1911–1986) and Petar Drapšin (1914–1945). Koča Popović (1908–1992) was another prominent Partisan commander who fought for the Spanish Republicans.[2]

## Composition

[edit]

The exact number of Yugoslavs who volunteered in Spain is unknown and is still being researched. The Belgrade-based Association of Spanish Fighters, established in 1946, cites a figure of 1,775 confirmed members. It estimates 595 of these were killed in Spain, and another 116 in Yugoslavia during World War II.

The ethnic composition of Yugoslavs is also unknown. A surviving personnel archive of the 129th International Brigade, compiled in Barcelona in May 1938, lists 1,052 people originating from Yugoslavia. Ethnicity data is missing for 140 of them, and the remaining 912 are listed as 48% Croats, 23% Slovenes, 18% Serbs, 3.2% Montenegrins and 1.5% Macedonians.[3]

The matter is further complicated by the fact that only about a quarter (421) is estimated to have come directly from Yugoslavia. The rest were predominantly working class Yugoslavs who had emigrated elsewhere and then came to Spain from other countries, such as France (420), Belgium (191), the Soviet Union (84), Canada (83), the United States (57), and others.

Data about political affiliations of volunteers is also incomplete. Spanish sources say that out of 1,040 Yugoslavs on record some 561 self-described as communists, ten as social-democrats, eight were affiliated with the Croatian Peasant Party and four were anarchists. The remaining 457 had no political affiliation to declare.

## Legacy

[edit]

* A street in New Belgrade, a municipality of Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, bears the name Španskih boraca (Spanish fighters).
* The People's Library in Podgorica, Montenegro is named after Radosav Ljumović, a Montenegrin volunteer in the Spanish Civil War.
* The "Španski Borci" cultural centre in Ljubljana, Slovenia, is named after the Yugoslav volunteers in the Spanish Civil War.

## Notable people

[edit]

* Đorđe Andrejević-Kun (1904–1964)
* Vicko Antić [sr] (1912–1999)
* Maksimilijan Baće [sr] (1914–2001)
* Spas Bandžov [sr] (1904–1942)
* Jakov Baruh [sr] (1914–1941)
* Aleš Bebler (1907–1981)
* Imre Beer [sh] (1905–1942)
* Vlajko Begović [sr] (1905–1989)
* Božo Bilić Marjan [sr] (1913–1942)
* Gojko Bjedov [sr] (1913–1937)
* Milan Blagojević Španac (1905–1941)
* Stane Bobnar [sr] (1912–1986)
* Divko Budak [sr] (1897–1941)
* Leopold Caharija [sl] (1905–1995)
* Nikola Car Crni [sr] (1910–1942)
* August Cesarec (1893–1941)
* Vlado Ćetković [sr] (1911–1944)
* Rajko Cibic [sl] (1914–2010)
* Rodoljub Čolaković (1900–1983)
* Milan Ćopić (1897–1941)
* Vladimir Ćopić (1891–1939)
* Matija Šiprak (1913–1937)
* Josip Čubrić [sr] (1912–1941)
* Vjećeslav Cvetko Flores [sr] (1917–1941)
* Stjepan Cvijić [sr] (1905–1938)
* Miljenko Cvitković [sr] (1914–1943)
* Jovan Đajić [sr] (1905–1974)
* Stipe Đerek [sr] (1912–1942)
* Božidar Dakić [sr] (1909–1941)
* Peko Dapčević (1913–1999)
* Nada Dimitrijević-Nešković [sr] (1907–1941)
* Robert Domany (1918–1942)
* Žikica Jovanović Španac (1914–1942)
* Petar Drapšin (1914–1945)
* Stipe Đerek [sr] (1912–1942)
* Ivan Gošnjak (1909–1980)
* Ahmet Fetahagić [sr] (1914–1944)
* Roman Filipčev [sr] (1895–1941)
* Dimitrije Georgijević [sr] (1884–1959)
* Jože Gregorčič [sr] (1903–1942)
* Gančo Hadžipanzov [sr] (1900–1936)
* Ivan Hariš [sr] (1903–1989)
* Ljubo Ilić [sr] (1905–1994)
* Grga Jankes [sr] (1906–1974)
* Fadil Jahić Španac [sr] (1910–1942)
* Rudi Janhuba [sl] (1914–1976)
* Janko Jovanović [sr] (1901–1939)
* Žikica Jovanović Španac (1914–1942)
* Juraj Kalc [sr] (1908–1942)
* Svetislav Kanački [sr] (1911–1943)
* Čedo Kapor [sr] (1914–2004)
* Drago Kobal [sl] (1911–1944)
* Viktor Koleša [sl] (1884–1946)
* Josip Kopinič (1911–1997)
* Đoko Kovačević [sr] (1912–1938)
* Veljko Kovačević (1912–1994)
* Ivan Krajačić [sr] (1906–1986)
* Otmar Kreačić [sr] (1913–1992)
* Josip Križaj (1911–1948)
* Dušan Kveder (1915–1966)
* Mirko Kovačević [sr] (1916–1941)
* Marijan Krajačić [sr] (1905–1942)
* Branko Krsmanović (1915–1941)
* Ivan Lenac [sr] (1906–1945)
* Lazar Latinović [sr] (1915–2006)
* Danilo Lekić [sr] (1913–1986)
* Vladimir Majder (1911–1943)
* Jovan Mališić [sr] (1902–1939)
* Srećko Manola [sr] (1914–1979)
* Mijat Mašković [sr] (1910–1937)
* Božidar Maslarić [sr] (1895–1963)
* Karlo Mrazović [sr] (1902–1987)
* Danko Mitrov [sr] (1919–1942)
* Kosta Nađ (1911–1986)
* Guido Nonveiller (1913–2002)
* Gojko Nikoliš (1911–1995)
* Franjo Ogulinac Seljo [sr] (1904–1942)
* Marko Orešković (1896–1941)
* Blagoje Parović (1903–1937)
* Ratko Pavlović Ćićko [sr] (1913–1943)
* Boško Petrović (1911–1937)
* Miha Pintar Toledo [sr] (1913–1942)
* Koča Popović (1908–1992)
* Vlado Popović (1914–1972)
* Svetozar Popović-Milić [sr] (1901–1944)
* Vladeta Popović Pinecki [sr] (1911–1941)
* Franc Primožič [sl] (1915–1963)
* Franjo Puškarić [sr] (1908–1937)
* Franc Rozman (1911–1944)
* Ivan Rukavina (1912–1992)
* Mićo Radaković [sr] (1915–1941)
* Kornelija Sende-Popović [sr] (1914–1941)
* Ante Šarić Rade Španac [sr] (1913–1943)
* Drago Štajnberger (1916–1942)
* Izidor Štrok [sr] (1911–1984)
* Stane Semič Daki [sr] (1915–1985)
* Ivan Turk [sr] (1913–1937)
* Vojo Todorović [sr] (1914–1990)
* Anton Ukmar [sr] (1900–1978)
* Cvetko Uzunovski [sr] (1912–1993)
* Lazar Udovički [sr] (1915–1997)
* Julio Varesko [sh] (1896–1937)
* Ivo Vejvoda [sr] (1911–1991)
* Mate Vidaković [sr] (1907–1941)
* Veljko Vlahović (1914–1975)
* Đuro Vujović [sr] (1901–1943)
* Ratko Vujović (1916–1977)
* Petar Vuksan Pekiša [sr] (1905–1941)
* Pavle Vukomanović [sr] (1903–1977)
* Tone Žnidaršič [sr] (1913–1944)
* Ljubomir Živković Španac [sr] (1918–1942)

## References

[edit]

This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (January 2021) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

|

1. ^ Asociación Brigadistas Yugoslavos "Naši Španci Archived October 16, 2010, at the Wayback Machine" Retrieved 2012-02-29
2. ^ Lenninists "International Solidarity With the Spanish Republic 1936•1939. Yugoslavia[usurped]" Retrieved 2012-02-29
3. ^ Milo Petrović, editor; (2014) Preispitivanje prošlosti i istorijski revizionizam. (Zlo)upotrebe istorije Španskog građanskog rata i Drugog svetskog rata na prostoru Jugoslavije. (in Serbo-Croatian) p. 243; [1] Archived 2020-10-20 at the Wayback Machine

## Sources

[edit]

* Aleš Bebler (1961). Naši Španci: zbornik fotografija i dokumenata o učešću jugoslovenskih dobrovoljaca u španskom ratu 1936-1939. Španski borci Jugoslavije.
* Savo Pešić (1990). Španjolski građanski rat i KPJ. Izdavački centar Rijeka.
* Krv i život za slobodu: slike iz života i borbe studenata iz Jugoslavije u Španiji. Univerzitet u Beogradu. 1982 [1969].
* Slovenci, španski borci. Komunist. 1982.
* Dragoljub Kuprešanin; Veselinka Kastratović-Ristić; Dušica Knežević; Jelena Bjelajac; Marija Minić (2006). Homenaje a los brigadistas yugoslavos. Belgrade: Muzej istorije Jugoslavije. ISBN 9788684811075.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Yugoslav volunteers in the Spanish Civil War.

* "Крв и живот за слободу - слике из живота и борбе студената из Југославије у Шпанији". 1969.
* Ivan Očak (1985). "Jugoslavenski sudionici Oktobarske revolucije u borbi proiv fašizma (1936-1936)". Radovi Zavoda za hrvatsku povijest Filozofskoga fakulteta Sveučilišta u Zagrebu. 18 (1).
* Живојин Павловић, Биланс совјетског термидора: Приказ и открића о делатности и организацији Стаљинског терора
* Свједочанства о Далматинцима у Шпањолском грађанском рату
* др Август Лешник - „Крв и живот за слободу“ – Југословени интербригадисти у Шпанији (1936—1939)
* MDC "Mihovil Vojnović" Retrieved 2012-02-29
* Beogradski Short Film Festival "In Memoriam" Retrieved 2012-02-29
* Website of the Association of Yugoslav Volunteers, «YuInterBrigade» (in Serbian and Spanish)
* YouTube «Naši Španci - Jugoslaveni u Španjolskom građanskom ratu» (Gallery)

* v
* t
* e

XV International Brigade – Abraham Lincoln

Commanders|

* János Gálicz (Jan–Feb 1937)
* Vladimir Ćopić (Feb–Jul 1937)
* Klaus Becker (Jul–Aug 1937)
* Vladimir Ćopić (Aug 1937–Mar 1938)
* Robert Hale Merriman (Mar–Apr 1938)
* Vladimir Ćopić (Apr–May 1938)
* José Antonio Valledor Álvarez (May–Sep 1938)

Battalions|

* British Battalion
* Lincoln Battalion (incl. American Medical Bureau & Connolly Column)
* Dimitrov Battalion
* Sixth of February Battalion
* 24 Battalion
* Mackenzie–Papineau Battalion
* Washington Battalion

People|

* William Aalto
* Bernard Ades
* Bill Alexander
* Hans Amlie
* Edward K. Barsky
* James Walker Benét
* Alvah Bessie
* Delmer Berg
* Herman Bottcher
* Edward A. Carter Jr.
* Christopher Caudwell
* Lewis Clive
* Morris Cohen
* Robert Garland Colodny
* Fred Copeman
* John Cornford
* Jock Cunningham
* Peter Daly
* Peko Dapčević
* Carmelo Delgado Delgado
* Philip Detro
* Charles Donnelly
* Bob Doyle
* Petar Drapšin
* Frank Edwards
* Leo Eloesser
* Moe Fishman
* Hugh Garner
* John Gates
* David Guest
* Jason Gurney
* William Herrick
* Robert Hilliard
* Jack Jones
* Salaria Kea
* Robert Klonsky
* Oliver Law
* Laurie Lee
* Maurice Levitas
* Yank Levy
* Matti Mattson
* Alex McDade
* Paddy Roe McLaughlin
* Kosta Nađ
* Conlon Nancarrow
* George Nathan
* Steve Nelson
* Paddy O'Daire
* John O'Reilly
* Michael O'Riordan
* Thomas Patten
* Will Paynter
* Koča Popović
* Harry Wayland Randall
* Patrick Read
* Esmond Romilly
* Frank Ryan
* Alfred Sherman
* George Sossenko
* Stephen Spender
* Wally Tapsell
* Robert G. Thompson
* Tom Wintringham
* Milton Wolff

Political parties|

* Communist Party USA
* Communist Party of Great Britain
* Communist Party of Canada
* Communist Party of Ireland
* Republican Congress
* Communist Party of Yugoslavia
* Communist Party of Cuba

Related|

* International Brigades
* Communist International
* Yankee Squadron
* International Brigade Memorial Trust
* Jarama Valley
* Songs of the Lincoln Battalion
* Viva la Quinta Brigada
* Jewish volunteers
* Yugoslav volunteers
* Irish volunteers
* Yugoslav Partisans
* Atomic spies
* Smith Act

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template