Review of Pamphlets about the Spanish Revolution 1936-39 From: Research on Anarchism List Date: 21 Oct 2000 21:47:42 UTC (05:47:42 PM in author's locale) To: ra-len-AT-jade.univ-montp3.frDate: Fri, 20 Oct 2000 18:05:24 +1000 From: Jura Books Reviews of Wrong Steps: Errors in the Spanish Revolution by Juan Garcia Oliver and Remembering Spain: Italian Volunteers in the Spanish Civil War by Umberto Marzocchi, both published by Kate Sharpley Library, London, Each 1.50 pounds. From Rebel Worker Paper of the Anarcho-Syndicalist Network Vol.19 No.5 (167) Oct.-Nov. 2000 Subs. $12 (Aust) $25 airmail overseas address: PO Box 92 Broadway 2007 NSW Australia. Since the collapse of the Berlin Wall, Leninism and Stalinism in much of the world have been marginalised as an organised tradition and reduced to congeries of sects. However aspects of the Leninist/Stalinist legacy particularly vanguardism - the building of a manipulative elite which has aspirations for dominating the workers movement have permeated much of the anti-capitalist movement. Despite the adoption of anarchist and anarcho-syndicalist designer labels by some of these elements. In regard to Spain in the 1930's which both pamphlets under review focus, such a vanguardist orientation informed the activity of the Barcelona based Iberian Anarchist Federation which was able to exert wide influence over the anarcho-syndicalist labour movement, particularly the National Confederation of Labour, C.N.T (the largest anarcho-syndicalist labour movement in the world which at its peak had several million members), through unscrupulous methods and the taking over of various CNT newspapers and committees. This vanguardist activity by the Barcelona based FAI (Iberian Anarchist Federation) a federation of anarchist affinity groups - friendship based groups in Portugal and Spain) in the early 1930's involved the orchestration of purges against more coherent anarcho-syndicalist tendencies within the CNT - the BOC (Worker and Peasants Bloc) and the Trientistas on the basis of bogus charges in the case of BOC members -that they were Marxist Leninists and in the case of the Trientistas that they favoured collaboration with the state and that they weren't doing enough about the plight of the unemployed in depression era Spain. The hysterical atmosphere within the CNT associated with these waves of purges, subsequent insurrectionary whirlwind/massive state repression, and the simplistic revolutionary strategy favoured by these ultra sectarian FAI elements - that the CNT was self sufficient for the revolution in Spain, stifled a climate in the CNT congenial for calm discussion/debate and scientific research necessary to develop more sophisticated revolutionary strategies ie a workers/peasants councils/ political assemblies system model. "Wrong Steps" by Juan Garcia Oliver, consists of extracts from his autobiography, "El eco de los pasos" or "echoing footsteps" and has been published in this pamphlet to provide an explanation of the CNT and FAI participation in the Popular Front Govt. and Anti-Fascist alliance during the revolutionary period and Civil War 1936-39 by an eyewitness intimately involved in the affair. Typically as the author was heavily involved in the ultra sectarian Barcelona based FAI groupings and later on a Minister in the Spanish Popular Front Republican Govt., his explanation of this process is quite inadequate. In the pamphlet, Oliver argues that the reason for CNT and FAI participation in the Govt. stemmed from the influence of certain "middle class" intellectual FAI/CNT" elements. These elements most notably Frederica Montseny and Abad De Santillan had cold feet regarding the prospect of immediately introducing "Libertarian Communism" - abolition of the centralised state and capitalist ownership of the means of production and distribution and its replacement by federations of workers and community associations after the defeat of the military uprising in Catalonia. Due to fears of an "anarchist dictatorship" and foreign military intervention. Given the existence of an extensive middle class in wide sectors of what became the "Republican Zone" or areas liberated from Francoist forces and the wide influence of the bureaucratic and reformist UGT (General Union of Workers) associated with the Socialist Party, and lesser non revolutionary elements and their militias in certain sectors, an internal civil war in the Republican Zone could easily have been provoked. In May 1937 in Barcelona and at the end of the Civil War, throughout the remnants of the Republican zone, such a internal civil wars did occur . In place of introducing "Libertarian Communism" these elements argued for accepting a Committee of Anti-Fascist Militias (CAFM) in Catalonia -a non-elected Govt. incorporating various "anti-Francoist" parties and unions. The author shows this proposal had similarities to a prior proposal presented to key FAI/CNT militants by Catalan Generalitat (Catalan Provincial Govt.) President Luis Companys. These "Popular Front Front"style Govt. structures spread to the rest of Republican Spain This formula also left in tact the faÁade of the pre-coup bourgeois state structures such as the Generalitat. These structures gradually regained their old role and became key agents of counter revolution in the Republican Zone. The pamphlet particularly discusses the role of the Catalan CNT plenum - a meeting of delegates on the 23rd July 1936 which approved the CAFM proposal. Oliver reasons that due to the exceptional circumstances the Plenum delegates met in haste and lacking prior discussion of the proposals were swayed from the revolutionary course by previously ultra militant FAI elements. However,had the CNT not been swept into a state of hysteria associated with the purging of the BOC and Treintistas in the early 30's, a workers/peasants council system formula which would both incorporate all working class forces and secure and expand revolutionary achievements could have been developed and adopted by the CNT and rapidly introduced after the defeat of the military uprising avoiding Popular Front Govt. collaboration. Concurrent with the emergence of the Popular Front Governmental structures throughout Republican Spain was the rapid appearance of a militia system controlled by unions and political parties. The lack of unity of command, and coordination, rivalries and intrigues particularly involving the Stalinist oriented Communist Party in the anti-fascist militias contributed to disastrous reverses for the militias against the Francoist armed forces and an inability to more rapidly liberate areas in the early days of the Civil. War. These problems of co-ordination and rivalry and associated inefficiency and military defeats were used by Stalinist and Bourgeois forces later on to push for a centralised People's Army with an officer corps, necessary to develop and carry out military plans. The Peoples Army and associated militarisation of the militias rapidly played into the hands of counter revolutionary forces with large parts of the officer corps being taken over by the Communist Party in part due to its increased sway over the Popular Front Republican Govt. associated with its reliance on Soviet arms for the war effort. Subsequently Stalinist and Bourgeois controlled elements of the People's Army in 1937 became engaged in attacks on revolutionary achievements such as the collective farms in the province of Aragon and attacks on revolutionary forces such as the CNT and the anarcho-syndicalist oriented POUM in Barcelona and elsewhere. The adoption of the workers/peasants councils system and general militias not based on specific organisations but tied to the councils would have contributed significantly to combating this trajectory into counter revolution. "Remembering Spain" by Umberto Marzocchi, focuses upon his personal recollections of the role of Italian anarchists in the anarcho-syndicalist side's armed struggle during the Spanish Civil War. Particularly highlighted is the unique role played by these militants in diverse aspects of this struggle - acquiring arms, activity in commando, fortification and in militia units and dare devil raids and attacks against Francoist forces on the Aragon Front . The disastrous consequences for the anti-Franco war effort of the anti-fascist militia structure which created opportunities for destructive rivalries and associated sabotage is graphically highlighted. A particular incident recounted was the battle of Alumudevar in November 1936. The capture of this town was important in regard to breaking communications between the Aragonese towns of Zaragoza and Huesca which were under siege by militias. However during the attack , the Stalinist controlled Karl Marx Division refused to supply promised reinforcements necessary to ensure the capture of the town, causing the failure of the operation. The pamphlet concludes with an account of a major example of Republican and Stalinist sabotage and counter revolution, resulting from the CNT's collaboration in the Popular Front Government - their coup d'etat in Barcelona in May 1937 against militants of the POUM and most importantly the CNT and its organisation. The author recounts the failure of the Italian Anarchist militia fighters in Barcelona to respond rapidly and adequately to this attack and the death of key militants particularly the anarchist philosopher Camillo Berneri during the confused street fighting in the city. The author's allegation that Berneri was murdered by Stalinists for political reasons is possibly contradicted by new information on the case presented in "Arms For Spain" by Gerald Howson. This information points to the role of a corrupt Socialist Party Minister in the Caballero Government and a diverse cabal of criminal elements including ex-Italian anarchists who feared the exposure of their corrupt activities by Berneri. In conclusion, both pamphlets inadvertently throw important light on the grave consequences of vanguardism which prevailed in the Spanish anarcho-syndicalist labour movement of the 1930's. A malady which must be avoided at all costs today to ensure the resurgence of an international revolutionary union movemen and the success of a renewed offensive against the bulwarks of global capitalism. Mark McGuire