Tuesday 7 June 2022

Las Milicianas, La Pasionaria and the Spanish Civil War

 Hola! A few posts back, when I mentioned Rosa Luxemburg, Chris at Horse and Musket Gaming jokingly suggested I needed to add details of La Pasionaria - The Passion Flower. So here we go!

Apparently, after Francos death, Delores returned to Spain, stood for election in the same seat as she was elected to in the 1930's, and won, being elected to the democratic Spanish Parliament in her 80's!

In addition to her famous Non Paseran (They Shall Not Pass) during the Battle for Madrid, she had a number of other quotes that have become very well known ..EG


And here is that statue in Glasgow




Moving on from Delores, here is some info on another Heroine of Republican Spain, Lina Odena



And finally for tonight, here are some contemporary images of Milicianas enlisted to fight for the Republic, many of them nicely colourised


Note the "Spotty Dress" similar to one of my Minairons Milicianas!









A colourised version of the first image



Hope we all enjoyed that brief history of the female involvement on the Republican side in the Spanish Civil War! More toy soldiers are completed but I will post them in a day or two - adios amigos!
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27 comments:

  1. Neil Scott7 June 2022 at 23:38

    Thanks for sharing Keith. Some very herioc ladies

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    1. rross8 June 2022 at 05:55

      Thanks Scotty...have you watched the five part Granada TV doco about the war on YouTube? Knowing your interest in the period, I would recommend it

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    2. Neil Scott9 June 2022 at 20:02

      I forgot all about that one. Will have to give it a watch

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    3. rross9 June 2022 at 21:08

      I thought it was pretty well done

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  2. Jonathan Freitag8 June 2022 at 00:57

    Fascinating history. Reading this, I am brought back to Hemingway’s FWTBT and Pilar.

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    1. rross8 June 2022 at 05:57

      Yes indeed Jon! We had to read Homage to Catalonia at high school...I can't remember if it as for English or History though!

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  3. The Jolly Broom Man8 June 2022 at 01:39

    Very brave and inspirational people. I’d like to think I’d have their courage if ever put to the test.

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    1. rross8 June 2022 at 05:58

      I don't think there would be many people taking up arms to defend Bojo against a military coup JBM!

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  4. caveadsum14718 June 2022 at 03:29

    Very interesting post on a mostly depressing war! I like the colourised period photos, especially the spotty dress one!
    Best Iain

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    1. rross8 June 2022 at 06:03

      Totally agree it's a particularly depressing story. It's quite amazing how Spain changed in the early to mid Thirties, from one if the most repressive, traditionalist states in Europe to possibly the most egalitarian and modern society. Of course, large numbers of people had their lives disrupted by the speed of the changes. I thought it was particularly poignant that after living most of her life in a totalitarian Soviet Union, La Pasionaria returned home as an old lady and was re elected to her original seat in the Soanish parliament....

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  5. Steve J.8 June 2022 at 06:18

    A nice slice of history there Keith and an important one too.

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  6. Matt Crump8 June 2022 at 06:22

    Thanks for the history Keith a period I toyed with but ended up heading to the RCW. I do have an excellent book On the SCW but I haven’t got round to reading it yet?

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    1. rross8 June 2022 at 17:32

      Thanks Matt, I of course have shown no restraint and gave figures for both era's! Mind you, if there is a more depressing period of twentieth century history than the SPANISH Civil War, it would be the RUSSIAN Civil War!

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  7. Lawrence H8 June 2022 at 07:57

    Very interesting women. I knew Midnight Oil hadn't made up that lyric, but never knew where they had got it from.

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    1. rross8 June 2022 at 17:33

      Haha, good point Lawrence. I have certainly been aware of the saying for years but did not realise it originated in Spain!

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  8. Old Nick8 June 2022 at 13:22

    Wow! Great history lesson. That us something I am finding interesting about this sad chapter in Spain's history. The colorful, unusual personalities. Fascinating.

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    1. rross8 June 2022 at 17:38

      Agreed Mark...I have not delved into it too deeply yet but even a cursory glance at Wikipedia reveals a multitude of different parties on each side of the conflict ..... The Civil Guards (national police force) for example, split almost straight down the middle...47% went with the Nationalists and 53% stayed loyal to the Republic, including the senior officer....so, in wargaming terms, you can have Civil Guards, with their cool tricorn hats, on both sides!

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  9. Michal DwarfCrypt8 June 2022 at 17:26

    Great history. Thanks a lot for this!
    Best regards

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    1. rross8 June 2022 at 17:39

      You are most welcome Michal and I am glad it was of interest!

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  10. Mark Strachan8 June 2022 at 21:33

    If I remember it correctly Delores made an appearance in that game we played at Tarawera a few years ago.

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    1. rross8 June 2022 at 22:28

      Yes she did, courtesy of Empress Miniatures via Ricks collection Mark! He also kindly provided me with a unit of Milicianas to command!

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  11. pancerni8 June 2022 at 22:50

    Great work and great resources , I must move my 28mm milicianes up in my queue.

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    1. rross8 June 2022 at 23:15

      Thoroughly recommend you do that Joe!

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  12. Stuart S9 June 2022 at 07:42

    Great post, some great insight and research points.

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    1. rross9 June 2022 at 17:13

      Thanks Stu...all lifted word for wired from the Net....it does have some uses!

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  13. uiduach OB9 June 2022 at 10:13

    An extraordinary life-some people have them. A good post too.

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    1. rross9 June 2022 at 17:18

      Yes indeed..thanks for visiting and double thanks for leaving a comment!

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