Introduction

The preamble, not surprisingly, seeks to introduce and set the scene of the SCW to an audience which probably knows very little about it. The author is clearly a Spaniard, and it seems likely that this Russian language article is a translation from a Spanish original, there are a number of grammatical difficulties, and some political comments which may have been slipped in by the translator.

However, we did show the work to a veteran of Vlasov's army the POA, and some of the decorations were 'familiar' to him. Some of these men in 1936 must have been, shall we say, of advancing years, since the RCW took place 1917-22, and by 1936 many of them would have been around 36-40 years of age at least!

Setting aside the rhetoric, the article makes several significant suggestions about the uniform and decorations worn by these Russians. It seems that the post was 'parade' details are taken completely from Bueno, but the the other insignia and the 'tassle' suggestion are plausible though six differentiations for such a small unit seems less so. The Spanish original might be more valuable as a source. It is not uncommon in Russian journals for the splendid uniform details to take complete precendence over any mention (in this case none at all!) of the military actions and service of a Russian unit.

Clearly there is potential for a great deal more resecarch here!

Incidentally, this Russian journal (?) has an odd German term as a title, that is to say literally "Union Branch" which defeats us all!

Russians

One of the least known forces in this war were detachments of Russians, former soldiers of the 'White' armies, who volunteered and fought for Franco's Nationalists. It must be said that on the Republican side there were many more Russian 'White' veterans who believed a widespread rumour that they would be permitted to return to their motherland if they fought for the Spanish Republic. This article deals only with those volunteers who wished to return to a free Russia, not the USSR, and they involved themselves in a foreign war with the aim of defeating the Left in Spain and thus beginning the liberation of their homeland.

The first group of White Russians was attached to the Navarrese Requettes' Monarchist troops of Don Carlos. Of these some departed into the Spanish Foreign Legion, while 35 others enlisted with the "Donna Maria de Molina" Regiment. In April 1937, a Russian 'subdivision' was organised consisting of 45 men with their own commanders and regulations; this was formally called the Russian National Detachment under N.E.Krivoshei, a former artillery Captain, now holding the Requette rank of Tenente.

The Spaniards did not object to the separate Russian subdivision, which was known as the "Warriors of St. George" , but a lack of volunteers made it only possible to create detachments of platoon size. Of the other 'White Russian' volunteers, 4 fought in the Falange, and 10 in the Spanish Foreign Legion 'Tercios'. In other units of the Requettes were a further 11 men. Two volunteers were pilots.

Out of 72 volunteers, some 34 were killed, and many were wounded. A number are known to have swopped their units during the course of the war, from Legion to Requettes and so on.

The Patron Saint of the Russian National Detachment was St John the Evangelist who had been Patron of the 4th Artillery Brigade Batteries during WWI and the Russian Civil War.

Russians serving with the Falange or Requettes were absorbed into the regular army in 1938, and at the conclusion of the War, certainly by October 1939, they accepted Spanish nationality. Most of the surviving 'Whites' continued their military service in the Foreign Legion. Some took part in WWII. Though Spain was officially neutral, Russian veterans continued their aim of liberating Russia from Communism, by serving in Spanish Volunteer, or Wehrmacht 'Russian' forces or Italian units on the Eastern Front against the Red Army.

Regardless of previous rank held,and some were Generals, the Russian volunteers all enlisted as privates, and only after time gained the ranks of corporal, sergeant or junior officer.

As an example, Russian Major-General A.Z. Fok, who shot himself at Cinto de Ebro in 1937 to avoid capture, held the Spanish rank of Tenente in the Requettes. While N.V. Shinkarenko, another former Major-General wounded at Bilbao was awarded the rank of Tenente in the Tercio by Franco himself. The Russians who fought on the side of the Nationalists were regarded as the best, bravest and most disciplined of soldiers. They were often awarded 'prizes' (sic).

One could not dispute their experience of war--some of them came to Spain from the French Foreign Legion which they joined after WWI--they never knew peace.

It is understandable why Russians joined the Foreign Legion,but curious why the Russian National Detachment was attached to the Navarrese Requettes. The location of Navarre in the north of Spain and close to France, held great importance. In the Requettes enlisted not merely Spanish Monarchists but French Royalists and akin to them Russian Monarchists. The Russians were well liked by the locals and were even allowed use of the Catholic Church for Orthodox services.

Uniforms

Russian volunteers wore the appropriate uniforms of the Legion, Falange or Requette-only the stripe in Russian national colours above their breast pocket, the Russian chevron of "Volunteer" on the left sleeve and any Russian medals (wearing them was permitted), distinguished them from Spaniards. Russian members of the Navarrese Requettes wore red berets onto which tassles were clipped--yellow for privates, red for corporals, green for sergeants, silver for junior officers, gold for senior officers and violet for chaplains. The first date on which the Russians wore these tassles was 16th May 1937. They also wore their bayonet-knives (sic) while off duty, and soon this became compulsory for all.

In November 1937, all Russians received grey Italian uniforms and this separated them from Spaniards in the same Regiment.

End of War

After the surrender of the Republicans on 24th June 1939 there was a military parade in Valencia, and in the Requette Battalion on parade was the Russian Detachment under the Russian white-blue-red flag. On this occasion all Russians were issued with new uniforms-boots trousers, shirts red berets with tassles, white socks, and patches with the Cross of Burgundy. Officers wore white gloves, brown leather belts and black riding boots. In June all privates were promoted to sergeants and all NCO's became officers, and everyone received two months leave.

On 17th October 1939, in Barcelona after accepting Spanish citizenship all Russian insignia was discontinued. No Russians in Spain were awarded any medals, but a black velvet badge to be sewn on the right side of the chest was presented to one N.N. Boltyn. Similar badges and certificates of service were promised to all Russian volunteers but these never materialised.

Bibliography

Yaremtchuk-"Russian Volunteers in Spain" San Francisco 1983.
Periodical "Timely" No's 234,238,239,Paris 1939.
Koltsov-"Spain in Flames" t2-M.1987.
Bueno "Uniformes de la Guerra Civil Espanola" Malaga 1971.