An Overview<\/b><\/p>\n
In <\/span>Homage to Catalonia<\/span><\/i> (written in 1937, published in 1938) George Orwell told the story of his involvement in the Spanish Civil War in 1936 and 1937. \u00a0Orwell\u2019s memoir was written while his memories were still hot and the war in Spain was still raging. \u00a0He did not aim to tell the entire history of this conflict. To the contrary, Orwell, an Englishman deeply committed to democratic causes, explained his own experience as a man caught up in a confusing conflict.<\/span><\/p>\n You already have a general understanding of the Spanish Civil War from Ian Kershaw, but let me provide a little bit of review. In July of 1936, the Popular Front government of Spain – the lawful government of the Second Republic, a coalition of center republicans, socialists, communists, and anarchists\u2014was assailed by a right-wing coup-attempt centered in the army and directed by General Emilio Mola. The army plotters – who included nationalists, monarchists, and fascists with a disdain for democracy and a hatred for socialism – aimed to overthrow the government and take power in a swift coup. They had the support of the CEDA, monarchists, and the Falange espa\u00f1ola. The conflict was the culmination of decades of struggle over the political direction of Spain, conflicts between monarchy and dictatorship, with brief experiments in republicanism. The Second Republic had only been in place since 1931, after the resignation of Primo de Rivera (the authoritarian leader, in 1930, his support waning) and the abdication of King Alfonso XIII (in 1931, under the pressure of popular protest).<\/p>\n The Second Republic was unstable from the beginning. Spain was split in many respects, with a conservative peasantry, a growing urban working class, and intellectuals seeking to rebuild Spain on new foundations (some looking to anarchism, others to socialism, others to fascism). Left-wing governments wanted to reform Spain. Conservative governments had other plans. The “black years” of 1933-34 saw violent repression by the Army and attempted overthrow of the government by the Socialists. The elections of 1936 saw the success of the Popular Front coalition, which narrowly beat out the right wing coalition of the CEDA (Spanish Confederation of Right-Wing Groups). <\/span><\/p>\n When the coup attempt came, it was rebuffed by a part of the Army, by republican politicians, and, especially, by the trade unions. But there was no quick resolution. What followed was a brutal civil war that unfolded over the next two years, eventually leading to the triumph of the nationalists and the establishment of General Franco, one of the plotters of the coup, as the leader of Spain, the Caudillo. He would remain the leader until his death in 1975.<\/span><\/p>\n The war itself was not a balanced affair. With most of the Army on its side, the Nationalists soon occupied much of the country, surrounding Republican enclaves around Madrid and in the north, the Basque Country and Catalonia, the region surrounding Barcelona. The Republicans got some help from the Soviet Union, who funneled support to Communists in Spain. France and Britain stayed on the<\/span> sidelines, arguing for an international arms embargo. Germany and Italy provided financial support for Franco as well as troops on the ground, commanders in the field, and bombing missions targeting civilians. <\/span><\/p>\n It was into this maelstrom that Orwell arrived in December of 1936, like many committed leftists from Europe and the United States, to join the fight on the side of the Republic.\u00a0<\/span>What he found surprised him. To begin with, he discovered that a social revolution had taken place in Barcelona\u2014a revolution that attracted his sympathies. He joined the war effort, going to the front with a militia affiliated with the POUM., a group of anti-Stalinist Marxists. (Take note of this detail, it will make all the difference). In the months that followed, he played an ineffective role in an ineffective military effort. When he came back to Barcelona on leave in May of 1937, Orwell discovered that the war against fascism was not so black and white. There were profound divisions among the anti-nationalists. And it turned out that Orwell had joined the “wrong” party. Violence broke out in Barcelona <\/span>among<\/span><\/i> the anti-nationalists, violence that pitted the government, the “right-wing” socialists and the communists against the anarchist parties, anarchist trade unions and left-wing socialists. Orwell escaped the violence in Barcelona and returned to the front at Huesca, where he was severely wounded ten days later. He was sent back to Barcelona, where his connection to the P.O.U.M. made him suspect. \u00a0With the help of his wife, Orwell escaped to France and then back to England. He sat down to write this book in July of 1937, as the war in Spain was still raging.<\/span><\/p>\n A Note on Editions<\/b><\/p>\n Homage to Catalonia\u00a0<\/span><\/em>has been printed in several editions with different page numberings. To make things more complicated, recent editions have renumbered the chapters and relegated some materials to an appendix, in line with Orwell’s plans for the final publication. I’ve given you a pdf of the original chapter numbers.<\/span><\/p>\n Parties and Acronyms from <\/b>Homage to Catalonia<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n For the parties in Republican Spain, see original Chapter Five or Appendix 1. A few pages into the chapter, Orwell explains the divisions among the anti-Nationalist forces. Here\u2019s how the anti-Nationalist forces line up in the spring of 1937, in the fighting in Barcelona:<\/span><\/p>\n On the side of the Government<\/b><\/p>\n Civil Guard and Assault Guard \u2013 An official police force<\/span><\/p>\n P.S.U.C. (Partido Socialista Unificado de Catalu\u00f1a) – A coalition of the Socialist and Communist parties of Catalonia established in 1936. Beholden to the Communist party line: \u201cnothing matters except winning the war\u201d (Appendix 1)<\/span><\/p>\n U.G.T. (Uni\u00f3n General de Trabajadores) \u2013 Socialist trade union <\/span><\/p>\n J.S.U. \u2013 The youth corps of the P.S.U.C.<\/span><\/p>\n The anarchists and the dissident socialists<\/b><\/p>\n P.O.U.M. (Partido Obrero de Unificaci\u00f3n Marxista) \u2013 A group of anti-Stalinist Marxists formed in February 1936. \u00a0Sometimes described as Anarchists. Its line: \u201cThe only real alternative to Fascism is workers\u2019 control\u201d (Appendix 1). Would be suppressed by the government in June (?) 1937.<\/span><\/p>\n C.N.T. (Confederaci\u00f3n Nacional del Trabajo) \u2013 Anarchist trade union<\/span><\/p>\n F.A.I. (Federaci\u00f3n Anarquista Ib\u00e9rica) \u2013 Anarchist trade union<\/span><\/p>\n Some other terms you might want to know<\/b><\/p>\n I.L.P. \u00a0(Independent Labour Party [of England]) \u2013 Socialist party to the left of the more mainstream Labour Party. <\/span><\/p>\n Popular Army \u2013 the reorganized government army of the Spanish government, which was gradually incorporating all of the party militias in Spain. \u00a0It was organized like a regular army, with different pay rates, different sleeping quarters, etc.<\/span><\/p>\n Popular Front \u2013 a coalition of left and center parties. \u00a0A Popular Front government took power in Spain in February of 1936. \u00a0Two months later, a Popular Front government took power in France.<\/span><\/p>\n A Few Study Questions<\/b><\/p>\n What is the war about? \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Why does Orwell, and why do so many people from around the world, fight on the side of the Republican government? \u00a0Would you have fought? Why or why not?<\/span><\/p>\n What does Barcelona in the midst of revolution look like? \u00a0Does it sound appealing?<\/span><\/p>\n What does Orwell think of the Spanish militias?<\/span><\/p>\n How well does the international press capture the events going on in Spain? \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Orwell writes that the war left him \u201cwith memories that are mostly evil, and yet I do not wish that I had missed it.\u201d (p. 195) \u00a0Why?<\/span><\/p>\n Read the last couple pages of the book carefully. \u00a0What is Orwell\u2019s message to his countrymen and women? \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" An Overview In Homage to Catalonia (written in 1937, published in 1938) George Orwell told the story of his involvement in the Spanish Civil War in 1936 and 1937. \u00a0Orwell\u2019s memoir was written while his memories were still hot and … Continue reading