George Washington Battalion

Spanish-American history

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June 29, 2026

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The George Washington Battalion was a unit of American volunteers who fought on the Republican side in the Spanish Civil War. It existed briefly in 1937 as a separate force. Due to heavy casualties, it was merged with the Abraham Lincoln Battalion in mid-1937. The Abraham Lincoln Battalion, largely composed of communists, was one of seven International Brigades formed by the Comintern. While initially predominantly American, by late 1938, Spaniards outnumbered Americans in the battalion. Approximately 900 out of about 2,800 American volunteers were killed in action.1

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Abraham Lincoln Battalion
…a second American force, the George Washington Battalion, but the casualties of both were so heavy that in mid-year the two were merged. As time went on, other nationalities were admitted to the Lincoln Battalion so that, by late 1938, Spaniards outnumbered Americans in the battalion three to one. Its…
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…a second American force, the George Washington Battalion, but the casualties of both were so heavy that in mid-year the two were merged. As time went on, other nationalities were admitted to the Lincoln Battalion so that, by late 1938, Spaniards outnumbered Americans in the battalion three to one. Its…
Read More