The Communists and Catalan Spain

[Grayshot]

First post

I was wondering if anyone had any really good sources of information on the Communist Party's relationship to the anarchist movement in Spain? The only full text I've read on the subject was Orwell's Homage To Catalonia but naturally it doesn't cover all aspects of the events there.

It would be especially interesting to get information coming from someone who support the SU (though I would be inclined to disagree with you there...) on why the Communist Party was in opposition to this movement.

Thanks!

[x359594]

If you're keeping to Catalonia, the Partit Socialista Unificat de Catalunya (PSUC) was the paramount Stalinist party there. It was formed in July 1936 at the time of the military upraising. Most of the members came from Catalan branches of the Socialist Party (PSOE) and the Communist Party (PCE). Members also came from the Partit Catala Proletari and the Union Genral de Trabajadores (UGT). Juan Comerara was elected general secretary of the PSUC. At that time PCC had around 2000 members. By the middle of 1937 the PSUC claimed to have a membership of 50,000.

For detailed background on the growth and influence of the PSUC see The Spanish Revolution (1979) by Burnett Bolloten and Marxism and the Failure of Organized Socialism In Spain, 1879-1936 (2003) by Paul Heywood.

[escapingNihilism]

another very good book on the subject is 'Anarchism and the City' by Chris Ealham. he also has published a bunch of other things on the revolutionary movement(s) and lead-up to the Civil War. as per the title it explicitly focuses on the Anarchist movement, but that can't be discussed without talking Stalin, so you should find plenty to interest you.