La Cucaracha Spanish Civil War Diary October 1938

- October 1938 -

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The Popular Front of Madrid to the Popular Front of the world. Homage to the International Brigades.

Constant shipment of new armament to the Spanish Fascists from their allies Hitler and Mussolini is making it possible for Franco to wage war without rest on the Republic. The Ex-General of the Spanish Army is bombing the Republican frontlines without pause.

Over the Ebro front the Fascists operate up to 200 planes at the same time, a number never seen in any war on the world before. The Republican Army of the Ebro is bombed to pieces.

Still they resist.

Spanish Prime Minister Negrin pulls back the foreign volunteers from the International Brigades. He hopes that the League of Nations will therefore mount pressure on Italy, Germany and Portugal to pull back their own soldiers from Spain. But especially after the Munich agreement and with Chamberlains obvious support for Franco's cause, it is clear that this will fail.

Without further listing: daily air raids on Republican cities to demoralize the population.

*01 Oct Germany occupies parts of Czechoslovakia**
	According to the Munich "agreement", forced upon Czechoslovakia by Chamberlain and Daladier, Nazi-Germany occupies parts of the democratic country (for more see http://www.factmonster.com/ce6/history/A0834437.html).

02 Oct *Ebro battle: Fascist troops pressing hard into Republican territory

*08 Oct 30 people die in Fascist air raid when civil train is attacked in Sant Vicenc de Calders**
	The train, waiting in the local train station, is hit by a bomb during an Fascist air raid.

*09 Oct Celebration of the 'Mexican Week' in Spain**
	To commemorate the selfless help of the Mexican Republic and its people, Spain celebrates the Mexican Week starting with a big festival for children in the Theater of Barcelona.

21 Oct *The Spanish government announces officially the pullback of foreign volunteers (in fact the International Brigades).

Following his declaration before the League Of Nations, Prime Minister Dr. Negrin and the government will send the foreign volunteers home. The foreign soldiers are pulled back fast from the frontlines, the units are replaced by Spanish troops.
Volunteers originating from Fascist ruled or occupied countries have to wait for an international agreement regarding their future destinations. Mexico is willing to take as many people as possible, but France does not allow the volunteers to cross the border and Mexican ships are blocked by the Non-Intervention committee from entering Republican ports.

Prime Minister Negrin announcing the pullback of the International Brigades

21 Oct *Japan occupies Canton and other important Chinese cities

*24 Oct Trial against the arrested POUM leaders in Barcelona**
	The POUM leaders, arrested in May 1937 and afterwards, are put to trial in Barcelona. Though the Communists demand death penalties, the public prosecutor is refusing this.

25 Oct *Farewell speech of Prime Minister Dr. Negrin to Members of the IB

During his farewell speech, Negrin promise the foreign volunteers that after the war they are more than welcome back to Spain, they will get the Spanish citizenship and accepting this citizenship will honor the Spanish people.
(The promise was made real in 1996, against the reluctance of the Fascist-friendly party Partido Popular, initiated by citizens organizations and with enthusiastic support of most democratic Spanish parties the law was passed fast and immediately signed by the Spanish King, Juan Carlos).
http://www.english.upenn.edu/~afilreis/50s/spain-reunion.html

*27 Oct Wilhelm Canaris, chief of German military intelligence, visits Franco**
	During his visit in San Sebastian, Canaris promises Franco continued support with armament, enabling the Spanish Fascists to use all their reserves in the Ebro battle against the government troops.

	*28 Oct Ramon Franco, brother of General Francisco Franco, dies in a plane crash.**
		Against his former political ideals, Ramon Franco was a radical Republican leftist, he joined the Fascist uprising of his brother Francisco. His plane crashed into the Mediterranean during an intended air raid against the Republic.

28 Oct *Farewell parade of the International Brigades in Barcelona

Ten thousands[1] of citizens attend to the farewell parade in Barcelona, many very emotional scenes take place (a second farewell parade takes place on Saturday, the 29th).
[1] (Officially more than 300.000 people came to attend the farewell parade. Right winged historians speak of 30.000, what seems to be a little low regarding the popularity of the volunteers, the number of citizens in Barcelona and the good weather.)

*30 Oct Fascists continue attack on Catalonia**
	After massive artillery strikes destroyed the last Republican defenses in the Sierra de Caballs, Fascist troops march into the area, continuing their advance in Catalonia.