Description
Object description
Spanish civilian in Barcelona, Spain, 7/1936; anarchist volunteer served with Durrutti Column, Iberian Anarchist Federation in Spain, 7/1936-12/1936; served with Spanish Republican Army in Spain, 1/1937-3/1938; refugee in France, 3/1939-5/1939; legionnaire served with French Foreign Legion in France, French Morocco and Narvik, Norway, 1939-1940
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Barcelona, Spain, 1920-1936: family; living conditions; family's political outlook; his involvement with Anarchist youth movement; question of violent element to Anarchism; opinion of Catalan nationalism; reaction to rising in Asturias, 10/1934; involvement in 1936 elections. Aspects of Nationalist Uprising in Barcelona, Spain, 18/7/1936-19/7/1936: question of attacks against Roman Catholic Church; reasons for Nationalist coup.
REEL 2 Continues: opinion of role of Nationalist Brigadier General Emilio Mola in Burgos; role of Anarchists during Nationalist coup; hearing news of Nationalist coup; view of barricades in Barceloneta area; fighting on Ramblas; weapons used in uprising; attack on barracks near Columbus Column; question of decision to spare General Francisco Franco's life in 1934; situation in city after defeat of uprising. Recollections of period as anarchist volunteer with Durruti Column, Iberian Anarchist Federation in Spain, 7/1936-12/1936: march towards Zaragoza; halt outside Zaragoza; opinion of Buenaventura Durrutti; in static positions outside of Zaragoza.
REEL 3 Continues: organisation of Durruti Column; relations with Communists and Socialists; Anarchist songs sung. Aspects of period as private with Spanish Republican Army in Spain, 1/1937-5/1938: Republican retreat from Zaragoza, 1937; background to Barcelona uprising, 5/1937; opinion of Spanish Communist and International Brigades; crossing of River Ebro; opinion of Dolores Ibárruri, 'La Pasionaria'; attitude towards Nationalist forces; opinion of weapons; political instruction amongst troops; question of Buenaventura Durrutti's attitude towards anti-Fascism.
REEL 4 Continues: reaction to death of Buenaventura Durrutti, 11/1936. Aspects of period as refugee in France, 3/1939-5/1939: crossing into France, 3/1939; reception by French authorities; conditions in refugee camps. Aspects of period as legionnaire in French Foreign Legion in France, French Morocco and Narvik, Norway, 1939-1940: decision to enlist in legion, 5/1939; discipline; different nationalities in legion; comparison of French and Spanish military training; story of being nicknamed 'The Sandal Army' in French Morocco; transfer from French Morocco to France, early 1940; move to north Norway, spring 1940; degree of action at Narvik, Norway, 1940.
REEL 5 Continues: running aground during landings at Narvik, Norway; second landings at Narvik, Norway; return to France, 5/1940; evacuation to Plymouth, GB, 6/1940.