Dimitrov Battalion
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The Dimitrov Battalion was part of the International Brigades during the Spanish Civil War. It was the 18th battalion formed, and was named after Georgi Dimitrov, a passionate and high profile Bulgarian supporter of the Spanish Popular Front.
It was formed, from Balkan exiles[1] in December 1936. It soon had 800 volunteers, including about 400 Bulgarians and 160 Greeks[2]. It became part of the XV International Brigade on 31 January 1937. There it joined two battalions that were to become famous: the British Battalion and the Lincoln Battalion. They fought together for the first time at the Battle of Jarama in February 1937, with the Dimitrovs holding the right. [3] The brigade suffered extremely heavy casualties.
On 20 September 1937, the Dimitrovs were moved to 45th International Division Reserve, where the battalion was rebuilt. On 13 February 1938, it became part of the newly-formed 129th International Brigade, which was formed from central European battalions. It remained with the 129th Brigade until it was demobilised on 5 October 1938. Its last commander, Josef Pavol[4], became a cabinet minister during Alexander Dubček's Prague Spring in 1968.
[edit] Footnotes and sources
- Hugh Thomas, The Spanish Civil War, 4th Rev. Ed. 2001.
- Antony Beevor, The Battle for Spain, 2006.
- (Spanish) Order of Battle website
- (Spanish) Associació Catalana Website
