Sixth February Battalion
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The "Sixth of February" Battalion (french: Bataillon Six-Février, es, Batallón Seis de Febrero) was a
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International Brigade The International Brigades ( es, Brigadas Internacionales) were military units set up by the Communist International to assist the Popular Front government of the Second Spanish Republic during the Spanish Civil War. The organization existe ...
battalion during the
Spanish Civil War The Spanish Civil War ( es, Guerra Civil Española)) or The Revolution ( es, La Revolución, link=no) among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War ( es, Cuarta Guerra Carlista, link=no) among Carlists, and The Rebellion ( es, La Rebelión, link ...
. The Battalion served in the XV and XIV International Brigades. It took its name from the date of 1934 anticipated right-wing putsch against the
Popular Front A popular front is "any coalition of working-class and middle-class parties", including liberal and social democratic ones, "united for the defense of democratic forms" against "a presumed Fascist assault". More generally, it is "a coalition ...
in France which was purportedly defeated by various left-wing groups.


History

The "Sixth of February" Battalion was founded on 20 December 1936 but did not become active until 31 January 1937. It was formed mainly by French and Belgian volunteers, although it also included
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n, Moroccan,
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,
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, Syrian, American, Chinese, Jewish Palestinian and Hungarian personnel. The name of the unit was in reference to the violent demonstration of 6 February 1934 in
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, which was led by far-right leagues against the left-wing French parliament. Until mid-1937, it was part of the
XV International Brigade The Abraham Lincoln Brigade ( es, Brigada Abraham Lincoln), officially the XV International Brigade (''XV Brigada Internacional''), was a mixed brigade that fought for the Spanish Republic in the Spanish Civil War as a part of the Internation ...
. The Frenchman Gabriel Fort was its commander until 12 February 1937, when he was severely wounded during the
Battle of Jarama The Battle of Jarama (6–27 February 1937) was an attempt by General Francisco Franco's Nationalists to dislodge the Republican lines along the river Jarama, just east of Madrid, during the Spanish Civil War. Elite Spanish Legionnaires and Mor ...
, where the unit fought between 11 and 27 February. Then, the Romanian Émile Schneiberg took command until his death two days later in the same battle. On 4 August 1937 it was moved to the XIV International Brigade, and comprised three companies of riflemen. The 1st Company had a machine-gun section. Gabriel Fort was designated commander again on 7 August, but lost his vision in Villanueva de la Cañada during the following fights. It was part of the XIV International Brigade Bis between 27 September 1937 and 23 February 1938, but it belonged again to the XIV until its dissolution on 22 April 1938.


References

{{XV International Brigade Military history of Belgium Military history of France International Brigades Military units and formations established in 1937 Military units and formations disestablished in 1938 Communism in Belgium