Support ALBA’s Work through the Jarama Society
In February 1937, American volunteers saw their first military action in the Spanish Civil War, fighting as part of the International Brigades in the struggle to defend Madrid. With little training, poor equipment, and none of the promised air and artillery support, the Lincolns took part in the attack on strategic Pingarrón Hill. Raked by enemy machine guns, with no coherent command, plagued by unworkable weapons, and amidst a cold, driving rain, survivors crawled back to the trenches, now crowded with wounded and dead bodies. The chaotic conditions made counting casualties difficult, and various sources report different numbers. Out of perhaps 350 soldiers, 120 were killed and roughly 150 wounded, for a staggering casualty rate of over 75%. Writing from Madrid for the New York Times, Herbert Matthews reported the Americans “were fighting in open terrain under exceptionally heavy fire, but they took it well and showed their officers they were to be relied upon.”
“However incompetent their leaders,” Peter Carroll noted, “the Lincolns acquired a reputation for courage and valor, the heroism of shock troops, that became part of their mythology.” The decimated Lincoln battalion was rebuilt and continued fighting until the International Brigades were demobilized in the fall of 1938.
The Battle of Jarama has come to symbolize the courage, commitment, and bravery of the American volunteers, as well as the terrible price they paid. This is why ALBA has named its legacy gift program The Jarama Society.
The Jarama Society provides a way to step up your commitment to preserving and teaching the history of the Lincoln volunteers. Joining is simple: just include ALBA in your will or living trust, or name ALBA as a beneficiary of your estate. ALBA accepts legacy gifts in any amount. From training high school teachers and students in how to use our archives, the quarterly publication of The Volunteer, and our website, to our social media outreach, film discussions and annual celebration, ALBA continues to pursue its mission: teaching future generations about the sacrifices made by the American volunteers in their fight against the global threat of fascism. Today, as the menace of fascism once again real, educating citizens about the Lincolns and their legacy is more urgent than ever. Your legacy gift to ALBA, in other words, will help ensure that today’s young people learn about the experiences of the volunteers in Spain, as well as their broader dedication to social justice at home.
If you would like to schedule a meeting or discuss options by telephone, please contact ALBA’s Executive Director Mark Wallem at (212) 674-5398 or mwallem@alba-valb.org. We would be pleased to provide more information or follow up with a personal visit.
