Participation of Jews in the Spanish Civil War

Born Brooklyn, New York, 1912. Member of Communist Party, studied agriculture before going to fight in Spanish Civil-War. Describes his experiences in the Civil-War. Travelled to France by boat, then with volunteers from other countries crossed over to Spanish border. Because of his military experience was asked to train others. Later assigned to a transport division, responsible for moving equipment, food as well as the dead. Participated in several harsh battles including one in Brunete. Later joined the Lincoln Battalion, which had many casualties due to poor military planning and strategy. Bad food (donkey meat) led to severe illness among soldiers. Left Spain, 1938. His passport was confiscated and returned only years later. Drafted in WWII, served 3 1/2 years. Faced some trouble due to his past in the Civil-War. Gives opinion that Hitler was so successful in Europe because most anti-Nazis were busy in Spain. Many American voluteers were killed in Spain, the survivors occasionally meet at Brandeis University, where there is an updated archive on his battalion.