XV International Brigade (15th Mixed Brigade) Abraham Lincoln Brigade |
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Active | 1936–1939 |
Country | US, British, Canada, Irish, Balkanic, French, Belgian,among others. |
Allegiance | Spain |
Branch | International Brigades |
Type | Mixed Brigade – Infantry |
Role | Home Defence |
Size | Four battalions: The 16th, 17th, 18th and 19th (January 1937) |
Part of | 35th Division (1937–1939) |
Garrison/HQ | Albacete, Barcelona |
Nickname(s) | Brigada Abraham Lincoln |
March | Jarama Valley and Viva la XV Brigada |
Engagements | |
Commanders | |
Notable commanders |
Janos Galicz Vladimir Ćopić |
The XV International Brigade was a mixed brigade (Brigada mixta) that fought for the Spanish Republic in the Spanish Civil War as a part of the International Brigades.
Nicknamed Brigada Abraham Lincoln, it mustered at Albacete in Spain, in January 1937, comprising many English-speaking volunteers – arranged into a mostly British Battalion and a mostly North American Lincoln Battalion. It also included two non-English-speaking battalions, the Balkan Dimitrov Battalion and the Franco-Belgian Sixth February Battalion. It fought at Jarama, Brunete, Boadilla, Belchite, Fuentes de Ebro, Teruel and the Ebro River.
The brigade's songs were "Jarama Valley" and "Viva la Quinta Brigada".
The XVth Brigade first fought at the Battle of Jarama in February 1937 and suffered many casualties. The British lost 225 men from 600; the Lincolns 120 from 500. After the battle, the brigade was seriously understrength.
At the end of March, a Spanish battalion, Voluntario 24 (the 24th Volunteers), joined the brigade. Over the next few months, under the close supervision of Janos Galicz, the brigade was re-organised into two regiments of about 1,200 men. He appointed "the gallant major",George Nathan, as brigade Chief of Staff.