Battalion Malatesta

The Battalion of Death
The Battalion of Death Battalion Malatesta
	File:Flag of Battalion Malatesta.jpg
Ideology	Anarcho-Syndicalism

Battalion Malatesta or the Battalion of Death was an Italian anarchist unit during the Spanish Civil War. The battalion was formed by a few hundred Italian anarchist exiles in France. It was organized and funded by Diego Abad de Santillan and commanded by the Italian Camillo Berneri.

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History

On the morning of March 14, 1937, the so-called "Death Battalion" was presented in the town of Barcelona (Catalonia) with a large parade. This "assault and shock force" formed on Avinguda del Catorze d'Abril, from where it marched in military formation in the direction of Passeig de Pi i Margall, and then continued along the Ramblas to Carrer de Fivaller. ; When he arrived at Plaça de la República, he formed in front of the Palau de la Generalitat, where the President of the Catalan Government Lluís Companys, the first Minister Josep Terradellas, the Minister of Economy Diego Abad de Santillán and other personalities were waiting. The motorcyclist section, the drummers, the flag bearers, the bugle and drum bands, the companies of the unit and, finally, the sanitary section of the battalion and a group of commissioners hoisting their own flag. They carried the flags of the Spanish Republic, with the initials UHP ("Uníos Hermanos Proletarios"), and the black, their own insignia. He was accompanied by the band of the Iberian Federal Party (PFI). The President of the Generalitat addressed the promise of the new fighters: “Do you promise to fight to the point of victory or to die, to fight and defeat the enemy until the sacrifice of your lives if necessary? Do you promise to continue the fight until you crush fascism and give the highest glory and the greatest honor to your flag? ”, Which they answered with a unanimous “ Yes! ” with machetes in the air. The battalion marched through Plaça de la República, then along Via Durruti and Ronda Salvochea to Plaça de Catalunya, where he made an appearance at the inauguration of the monument to the Heroic Soldier of the People, together with the column formed by the Unified Socialist Party of Catalonia (PSUC), other representations of militarized bodies of the Popular Army, the School of Political Commissioners, etc. The "Death Battalion" was the best-known anarchist column of an international character and consisted of about 600 members, mostly Italians exiled to France. This presentation parade made a strong impression on the public because of their uniforms and almost fascist appearance, although they were a more or less successful copy of the "Arditi del Popolo", the Italian anti-fascist squads.) Mario Weber and Emilio Strafelini and the advice of prominent anti-fascist activists (Nicola Menna, Fausto Nitti, Camillo Berneri, etc.). They fought on the Aragonese front and were defeated in the battles of Almudévar and Montalban. During the assault on the hermitage of Santa Quiteria, near Tardienta, they were annihilated. In October 1937, with the militarization of the militias, it was disbanded and its troops were assigned to the 142nd Mixed Brigade, the 32nd Division, the Garibaldi Battalion and other units of the Republican People's Army.