XIV International Brigade

XIV International Brigade (14th Mixed Brigade)

Active	1936–1939
Country	Mostly France and Belgium
Allegiance	Spain
Branch	International Brigades
Type	Mixed Brigade - Infantry
Role	Home Defence
Part of	35th Division (1937-1938) 45th Division (1938)
Garrison/HQ	Albacete
Nickname	La Marsellesa
Engagements	Spanish Civil War Battle of Lopera Second Battle of the Corunna Road Battle of Jarama Segovia Offensive Aragon Withdrawal Battle of the Ebro
Commanders
Notable commanders	General Walter Jules Dumont Joseph Putz

A memorial commemorating the International Brigades

The XIV International Brigade was one of several international brigades that fought for the Spanish Second Republic during the Spanish Civil War.

History and structure

It was raised on 20 December 1936 with volunteers mainly from France and Belgium, under General "Walter" (Karol Świerczewski). This Brigade was the fourth of the international brigades, and it mixed veterans with new, idealistic volunteers. It was formally named the Marseillaise Brigade, after the French revolutionary song (and national anthem).

Units

With subsequent consolidations and reorganisations, the XIV International Brigade included, among others, the following battalions:^[1] all or elements of the following units:

Commune de Paris Battalion
Domingo Germinal Battalion
Henri Barbusse Battalion
Louise Michel (I) Battalion
Louise Michel (II) Battalion
Marsellaise Battalion
Pierre Brachet Battalion
Primera Unidad de Avance Battalion
Nine Nations Battalion ("Sans nom" or "Neuf Nationalités")
Sixth of February Battalion (Franco-Belgian)
Vaillant-Couturier Battalion

Engagements

The brigade fought in the battles of Lopera, the Corunna Road,^[2] Jarama,^[3] and the Segovia Offensive.^[4]

After the Nationalist strategic victory in the Battle of Brunete (6–25 July 1937), heavy losses reduced the brigade strength from four to two battalions.^[5] However, the brigade lived on and was able to take part in the last Republican offensive of the war. As with all of the volunteer international brigades, the members of the XIV International Brigade faced a dark future after the eventual Nationalist victory.

References

↑ Hugh Thomas, The Spanish Civil War, Appendix III
↑ Thomas, Hugh. (2003). The Spanish Civil War. Penguin Books. London. p.480
↑ Thomas, Hugh. (2003). The Spanish Civil War. Penguin Books. London. p.572
↑ Thomas, Hugh. (2003). The Spanish Civil War. Penguin Books. London. p.668
↑ Beevor (2006) p 285

Mixed brigades of the Spanish Republican Armed Forces

1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th XI XII XIII XIV XIV Bis XV 16th 17th 18th 19th 20th 21st 22nd 23rd 24th 25th 26th 27th 28th 29th 30th 31st 32nd 33rd 34th 35th 36th 37th 38th 39th 40th 41st 42nd 43rd 44th 45th 46th 47th 48th 49th 50th 51st 52nd 53rd 54th 55th 56th 57th 58th 59th 60th 61st 62nd 63rd 64th 65th 66th 67th 68th 69th 70th 71st 72nd 73rd 74th 75th 76th 77th 78th 79th 80th 81st 82nd 83rd 84th 85th 86th 87th 88th 89th 90th 91st 92nd 93rd 94th 95th 96th 97th 98th 99th 100th 101st 102nd 103rd 104th 105th 106th 107th 108th 109th 110th 111th 112th 113th 114th 115th 116th 117th 118th 119th 120th 121st 122nd 123rd 124th 125th 126th 127th 128th CXXIX 130th 131st 132nd 133rd 134th 135th 136th 137th 138th 139th 140th 141st 142nd 143rd 144th 145th 146th 147th 148th 149th 150th CL 151st 152nd 153rd 154th 155th 156th 157th 158th 159th 160th 161st 162nd 163rd 164th 165th 166th 167th 168th 169th 170th 171st 172nd 173rd 174th 175th 176th 177th 177th 179th 180th 181st 182nd 183rd 184th 185th 186th 187th 188th 189th 190th 191st 192nd 193rd 194th 195th 196th 197th 198th 199th 200th 201st 202nd 203rd 204th 205th 206th 207th 208th 209th 210th 211th 212th 213th 214th 215th 216th 217th 218th 219th 220th 221st 222nd 223rd 224th 225th 226th 227th 228th 229th 230th 231st 232nd 233rd 234th 235th 236th 237th 238th 239th 240th 241st 242nd 243rd 244th 245th 246th

International Brigades (in Roman numerals) Fifth Regiment Group of Central Region Armies Group of Eastern Region Armies

XIV International Brigade

History and structure

Units

Engagements

See also

References