Abraham Lincoln Brigade - Etymology

Etymology

The name Brigade is a misnomer. In the Spanish Civil War, a brigade consisted of four to six battalions. American volunteers mostly joined the two battalions (the Lincoln Battalion and the Washington Battalion) within XV International Brigade. The XV International Brigade was made up of six battalions of volunteers from nations around the globe, topped up with Spanish conscripts. Irish volunteers formed the Connolly Column of the battalion under the command of Frank Ryan. In late 1936 this column joined the American rather than the British battalion on nationalist grounds.

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