Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion
The Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion or Mac-Paps were a battalion of Canadians who fought as part of the Fifteenth International Regiment for the Republican side in the Spanish Civil War.
The members of the Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion (named for William Lyon Mackenzie and Louis-Joseph Papineau, who led the 1837 Rebellions) served clandestinely, as the Canadian government had prohibited its citizens from fighting in Spain. Nevertheless, a greater proportion of the Canadian population served in the Internationals than of any other country: 1,448 from a national population of twelve million.
The soldiers who would make up the Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion came from all parts of Canada. Labourers who had been driven to the left by their experiences during the Great Depression made up the greatest number of those who heeded the call put out by the Soviet Union and taken up by Communist organizations in Canada. But not only Communists responded: there were also members of the CCF and Liberal parties, and others with no political affiliation. In general, the respondents were self-educated about the conflict in Spain, and about the possible repercussions for democracy in Europe and the world.
The Canadian government had passed a law whose effect was to prohibit citizens from fighting in Spain. Therefore, any Canadians who meant to serve in Spain had to travel a tortuous route through Toronto, Montreal or New York, across the Atlantic Ocean to France, then by ship or on foot across the Pyrenees to Spain. This weeded out the more drunken and adventurous types who made up part of the European volunteers, leaving those who were well and truly committed to the politics of the fight against fascism. All these factors, along with the comparatively mature age of the soldiers – 61.5% were over thirty – resulted in a powerful and committed force.
After their initial training in Albacete the Canadians, who had been added to the Fifteenth Brigade, entered the war. Their first engagement was at Jarama near Madrid, between February and June 1937, followed by a battle at Aragon Offensive (August-October 1937), the battle of Teruel (December 1937-April 1938) and finally, the Ebro Offensive in Catalunya and Valencia (July-September 1938). They fought with great enthusiasm and discipline, despite a powerful fascist opposition backed by Nazi Germany and Italy, and despite a complete lack of support from any of the Western democracies.
In the end, Spanish Prime Minister NegrÃn’s conscience caused him to order the international brigades withdrawn on September 21, 1938. Madrid fell six months later on 28 March 1939. In the battles in which they fought, as well as due to atrocities committed upon them when taken prisoner, 721 of the 1,448 Canadians known to have fought in Spain lost their lives.
The way home was arduous. The Canadian government continued its policy of ignoring or even persecuting the veterans of Spain. Money had to be scratched together to get them home; some were arrested in France. Upon their return to Canada, many were investigated by the RCMP and denied employment. Even though Canada went on to contribute vastly to the Allied side in World War Two, against the same fascism that the Mac-Paps had fought in Spain, the battalion’s contribution has never been formally recognized. Standard histories of Canada rarely mention the Spanish Civil War.
The Canadians who died in the Spanish Civil War are not included in the Books of Remembrance in the Peace Tower and their sacrifice is not commemorated on federal war memorials or in Remembrance Day services. Those who survived the war are not entitled to veterans' benefits. Although the soldiers and the war is largely forgotten, a monument to the Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion can be found in Victoria, BC.
One of the few Canadians to attain recognition for their service in Spain is Dr. Norman Bethune, who developed the first MASH units while fighting on the Republican side.
Bibliography
Beeching, William C. Canadian volunteers: Spain 1936-1939. Regina: U. of Regina, 1989.
Howard, Victor, with Mac Reynolds. The Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion: the Canadian contingent in the Spanish civil war. Ottawa: Carleton, 1986.
