Palafox Battalion

The Palafox Battalion was a volunteer unit of largely Polish and Spanish composition in the International Brigades during the Spanish Civil War. It was named after José de Palafox, a Spanish general who successfully fought French Napoleonic forces during the Peninsular War.

The Palafox Battalion was formed on 28 June 1937 as a unit of the 150th International Brigade. It was formed from Poles, and Soviet citizens, with a nucleus of Spanish volunteers from the Pasionaria Battalion. "Most of its companies were commanded by Red Army lieutenants").

On 4 August 1937, two of its companies were sent to reinforce XIII International Brigade, with the remaining companies following in early October. On 12 October 1936, the Palafox Battalion was merged with the Mickiewicz Battalion to form the 4th battalion of XIII International Brigade. It remained with the XIIIth Brigade until the International Brigades were demobilised on 23 September 1938.

It was formed on 28 Jun 1937 and, until 12 October 1937 attached to 150th International Brigade. It was then transferred to XIII International Brigade (the 13th Dabrowski Brigade). It has five companies of which No. 2 was a specifically Jewish unit.

1 Coy: 2 Coy: Naftalí Botwin 3 Coy: Adam Mickiewicz 4 Coy: Taras Szewczenko 5 Coy: Ludwik Warynski