The "Sixth of February" Battalion (french: Bataillon Six-Février, es, Batallón Seis de Febrero) was a Franco-

Belgian Belgian may refer to: * Something of, or related to, Belgium * Belgians, people from Belgium or of Belgian descent * Languages of Belgium, languages spoken in Belgium, such as Dutch, French, and German *Ancient Belgian language, an extinct languag ...

International Brigade 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 Carlism, Carlists, and The Rebellion ( es, La Rebeli ...

. The Battalion served in the XV and

XIV International Brigade 300px, A memorial commemorating the International Brigades The XIV International Brigade was one of several international brigades that fought for the Spanish Second Republic during the Spanish Civil War. History and structure It was raised on 2 ...

s. 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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, Chinese, Jewish Palestinian and Hungarian personnel. The name of the unit was in reference to the violent demonstration of 6 February 1934 in

Paris Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. Si ...

, 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 ...

, 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

, 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 Villanueva de la Cañada is a municipality in the Community of Madrid, Spain. Located 30 km north-west from Madrid, the municipality covers an area of 34.92 km2. Geographically, it sits on a large plain, in which there are several promo ...

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