"Bashert" by
Conrad Singer
Chapter 10 The International Brigade
ten
THE
INTERNATIONAL BRIGADE
Leaving Spain was easier said than done. I had neither
identity papers nor a passport. Without these, I would not be allowed to
cross the frontier in to France.
I discovered that the International
Brigade had a transit depot in Barcelona and went along to volunteer my
services. It was difficult to convince the hard line communists of my
sincerity. Nevertheless, I must have impressed them, as I was accepted. I
was allowed one meal a day until the new convoy of volunteers arrived from
abroad. We were sent to Albaceta, in the province of La Mancha, where the
headquarters if the International Brigade were sited. The convoy was
packed tightly. As I made my way through the train, I discovered, to my
great satisfaction, a small contingent from my homeland Romania.
On arrival, we were billeted in a huge
Spanish military barracks, which was wintry and very cold. There I found
the discipline very strict for it was commanded by the German Officers of
the Brigade. I was very glad, at least, to have been posted with two other
Romanians, to the Anna Pauker Artillery Regiment.Instructions were given to join their battery in Calando, Aragon.
The
winter was very hard but the rules we had been given were very strict. We
were not to inconvenience the local population, even if hospitality were
offered. I tried to make friends with a young schoolteacher. But, because
she belonged to a rather bourgeois family, I was forbidden to keep company
with her.