Songs of the Spanish Civil War Quiz

Answer: Republicans

The Republicans were a mixed lot, sharing their support for the Popular Front government of the Second Spanish Republic. They generally came from the so-called left wing, and included socialists, communists, anarchists and separatists, some of whom had actually opposed the government in earlier years. (If you think these four groups are pretty much the same thing, you have a lot to learn about how bitter the divisions between them can be!) But they all responded positively to 'The Internationale', an anthem of the socialist movement since it was adopted by the Second International as its official song in 1889.

The original lyrics to 'The Internationale' were written in French by Eugčne Pottier in 1871. They were intended to be sung to the tune of 'La Marseillaise', but in 1888 Pierre De Geyte wrote another tune, which has become the one now widely used. The lyrics have been translated into many languages, and changed over time to suit specific events, but all provide a rousing call to unity and action. One version of the chorus in English: "This is the final struggle /Let us gather together, and tomorrow / The Internationale / Will be the human race."

Answer: Republicans

This is Basque for 'Basque Soldiers', and was brought to the front by members of the Eusko Gudarostea, the army fighting in support of the Basque Autonomous Government, one of the groups participating in the Republican forces. It is based on a traditional tune, 'Atzo Bilbon nengoan', with words written in 1932 by José María de Gárate, and additional verses written during the war by Alejandro Lizaso Eizmendi. The lyrics urge everyone to fight for the liberation of the Basque country, a movement that has continued into the next century, still often using this anthem.

Answer: Republicans

The Spanish anarchists brought this song into play. The tune, 'Warszawianka' ('Whirlwinds of Danger') and the original lyrics came from Poland, with Valerian Orobón Fernández adapting the lyrics to fit the Spanish situation.

The chorus doesn't carry as much intense passion in the lyrics as is in the music:
"The most precious good is freedom / It must be defended with faith and courage / Raise the revolutionary flag / Which carries us ceaselessly towards triumph."

The final verse, however, brings up a vision of desperate battle:
"To the Barricades! To the Barricades! / For the triumph of the Confederation."

The Confederation to which it refers is the Confederación Nacional del Trabajo (national Confederation of Labor), known as the CNT. This Spanish labour union was the country's main anarchist organisation (insofar as that is not a contradiction in terms), and formed the bulk of the numbers in the Republican army.

Answer: Republicans

This was only one of the songs based on this tune, with varying lyrics, during the Spanish Civil War. Others used by the Republican army included 'El Ejército del Ebro', 'iAy, Carmela!', 'iAy, Manuela!', 'Rumba la Rumba', and 'El Paso del Ebro'. The Nationalists had one of their own variants, too, titled 'El Rîo del Nervión'. A good song spreads widely!

The original 'El Paso del Ebro' originated in the 1807 Battle of the Ebro, during the Spanish War of Independence, a battle that saw Napoleon's troops emphatically defeated. Another Battle of the Ebro was one of the longest battles of the Spanish Civil War, lasting from July to November of 1938. It was an overwhelming defeat for the Republicans; although Nationalist forces also suffered major losses, they then gained extra support from Germany and Italy, leaving them in a stronger position than before. Nevertheless, this song vibrates with defiance. The lyrics indicate the general tone, and make it clear why the alternative titles came into use, as they appear in the verses.

'Viva la XV Brigade' refers to those soldiers, rather than to the army of the Ebro, and to the Battle of Jarama, another major battle in which the Republican lines near Madrid held firm against Nationalist efforts to push them back. It has become the version used by a number of singers who have recorded the songs of the International Brigade (Republicans), including Pete Seeger and Christy Moore.

Answer: Republicans

'Jarama Valley' uses the tune of 'Red River Valley', with lyrics written about the Battle of Jarama, which took place in February of 1937. The Nationalist forces led by Francisco Franco and the volunteers fighting in the International Brigade to support the Republic ended up in a stalemate, with significant losses on both sides. The Republicans considered it a moral victory, since they did manage to keep the Nationalists from breaking through to reach Madrid.

There are several versions of the lyrics. The earliest known ones, by Alex McDade (a soldier in the British Battalion of the XV International Brigade), are distinctly more pessimistic and cynical than some that came later. The song was popularly sung at reunions, and recordings by the likes of Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger gave them a more widespread public profile.

Here are the opening verses of a few versions:
(Alex McDade)
"There's a valley in Spain called Jarama, That's a place that we all know so well, / for 'tis there that we wasted our manhood, / And most of our old age as well. // From this valley they tell us we're leaving / But don't hasten to bid us adieu / For e'en though we make our departure / We'll be back in an hour or two."

(Reunion)
There's a Valley in Spain called Jarama, / It's a place that we all know so well, / It is there that we gave of our manhood, / And so many of our brave comrades fell. // We are proud of the British Battalion, / And the stand for Madrid that they made, / For they fought like true sons of the soil. / As part of the Fifteenth Brigade."

(Woody Guthrie)
"There's a valley in Spain called Jarama / it's a place that we all know so well / it was there that we fought against the fascists / we saw a peaceful valley turn to hell. // From this valley they say we are going / but don't hasten to bid us adieu / even though we lost the battle at Jarama / we'll set this valley free 'fore we're through."

(Pete Seeger)
"There's a valley in Spain called Jarama / It's a place that we all know so well / It was there that we gave of our manhood / And so many of our brave comrades fell. // We are proud of the Lincoln Battalion / And the fight for Madrid that it made / There we fought like true sons of the people / As part of the Fifteenth Brigade."

Answer: Nationalists

The Falangists were one of the groups in the Nationalist alliance. In their earlier years they were primarily associated with fascist ideals, but later became known as the supporters of a conservative all-powerful secular state which enthroned Roman Catholicism as the fundamental nature of the state (but without allowing authorities of that church to override the authority of the secular government). By 1927 they had united with the Carlists (supporters of the restoration of a Bourbon monarch to the Spanish throne).

This song was a proud declaration of solidarity among supporters.

Answer: Nationalists

The title literally means 'We have passed', a reference to the fact that the International Brigade's declaration of 'iNo pasarán!' ('They will not pass') had been in vain, and the Nationalist forces were triumphant. The Argentine-born actress and singer Celia Gámez Carrasco (1905-1992) recorded it in 1939, and made it a big hit following Franco's victory. The lyrics mock the opposition in no uncertain terms. A YouTube clip is the source of the translation; it may not be accurate, but you will get the idea from this sample:

"It was on that Madrid two years ago / Where ruled Prieto and Mister Lenin / It was on the Madrid, of the scum / Of large caballero and Mister Negrin / It was on that Madrid of militants / Of sickles and hammers and soviets / It was on that Madrid of fists on high / Where they all cried at the same time: / "You shall not pass" said the Marxists / "You shall not pass" they cried on the streets / "You shall not pass" it could be heard all the time / Through big and small squares with miserable voices / "You shall not pass", "You shall not pass".

Answer: Nationalists

This song was the anthem of the Carlists, supporters of the restoration of a Bourbon monarch to the throne of Spain. It refers to the 1837 Battle of Oriamendi, fought in the First Carlist War between supporters of Carlos de Borbón and those of the regent, Maria Christina, acting for Isabella II (who was on the throne at the time). This war was both about who should be the successor to Ferdinand VII following his death in 1833, and about the nature of the monarchy. Carlists wanted a traditional monarchy, while Isabella's supporters, the Liberals, favored a constitutional monarchy.

'Marcha de Oriamendi' was originally written in Basque, with Spanish lyrics provided in 1908 by Ignacio Baleztena Ascárate. During the Spanish Civil War, a line referring to the King of Spain arriving in Madrid was changed to refer to the red berets conquering Madrid, the red berets being a part of the Carlist uniform.

The song's opening lines use the Carlist motto 'God, Fatherland, King':
"For God, for the Fatherland and the King / Our fathers fought. / For God, for the Fatherland and the King / we will fight too."

Answer: Nationalists

'Cara al Sol' ('Facing the Sun') was specifically written to provide a stirring anthem that could compete with 'A las Barricadas' in popularity. It was created by a Falangist committee in 1935, with credit for the words usually being given to José Antonio Primo de Rivera; the music by Juan R. Buendia was based on an earlier piece by Juan Tellería.

The lyrics start: "Facing the sun in my new shirt, that you embroidered in red yesterday, That's how death will find me if it takes me and I won't see you again."

The new shirt refers to the Falangist uniform, which was a plain blue worker's shirt, with the party logo embroidered in red over the heart: a double ox yoke holding in its centre five arrows with their tips spread across the top. The image is meant to portray strength in union, and the power of sacrifice for the cause.

While Franco controlled Spain, this was held to be one of the official national songs. Following his death in 1975, the song remained a rallying cry for right-wing opposition to the establishment of a constitutional monarchy.

Answer: Nationalists

'Marcha Real' ('Royal March') is still the national anthem of Spain, unusual in that it has no official lyrics. It made its first appearance in 1761 as 'March of the Grenadiers', attributed to Manuel de Espinosa de los Monteros. It gained public use, becoming the official anthem under Isabel II in 1833. During the Second Republic (the one being attacked by Franco's forces in the Spanish Civil war), the national anthem was decreed to be 'Himno de Riego' ('Anthem of Riego'), a song from the 1820s honouring a prominent figure in the uprising that restored the 1812 constitution.

These two songs had been alternating as the national anthem over the years, depending on who was in power. 'La Marcha Real' was therefore adopted by the Nationalists during the war.