Alonzo Watson
Encyclopedia
Alonzo Watson was an American
anti-Fascist
, historically famous as one of the first American anti-Fascist volunteers –as well as the first African American
–to fall on the field of battle during the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939)
.
veteran and painter, Watson had moved to New York
–joining the Communist Party
upon finding common cause with its Harlem
activism in the 1930s. He left New York
for Spain on the day after Christmas
in 1936 on the SS Normandie –one of the first group of volunteers to see service in the American outfit known as the Abraham Lincoln Brigade
. Staffed mostly by American Communists
eager to help the Marxist Second Spanish Republic
against the Anti-Communist military uprising led by General Francisco Franco
, the Lincoln Brigadists composed the first completely integrated American fighting force.
Alonzo Watson died in February 1937 at the Battle of Jarama
. Fellow veteran John Tisa recalls that Watson died in hand-to-hand combat.
His name occurs briefly as a historical character in Captain Blackman (1972), a novel written by African American writer John Alfred Williams and Bruce Palmer's
They Shall Not Pass: A Novel of the Spanish Civil War (1971).
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
anti-Fascist
Anti-fascism
Anti-fascism is the opposition to fascist ideologies, groups and individuals, such as that of the resistance movements during World War II. The related term antifa derives from Antifaschismus, which is German for anti-fascism; it refers to individuals and groups on the left of the political...
, historically famous as one of the first American anti-Fascist volunteers –as well as the first African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
–to fall on the field of battle during the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939)
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
.
Biographical sketch
Alonzo Watson was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1891. A veteran of World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
veteran and painter, Watson had moved to New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
–joining the Communist Party
Communist Party USA
The Communist Party USA is a Marxist political party in the United States, established in 1919. It has a long, complex history that is closely related to the histories of similar communist parties worldwide and the U.S. labor movement....
upon finding common cause with its Harlem
Harlem
Harlem is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, which since the 1920s has been a major African-American residential, cultural and business center. Originally a Dutch village, formally organized in 1658, it is named after the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands...
activism in the 1930s. He left New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
for Spain on the day after Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
in 1936 on the SS Normandie –one of the first group of volunteers to see service in the American outfit known as the Abraham Lincoln Brigade
Abraham Lincoln Brigade
The Abraham Lincoln Brigade refers to volunteers from the United States who served in the Spanish Civil War in the International Brigades. They fought for Spanish Republican forces against Franco and the Spanish Nationalists....
. Staffed mostly by American Communists
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
eager to help the Marxist Second Spanish Republic
Second Spanish Republic
The Second Spanish Republic was the government of Spain between April 14 1931, and its destruction by a military rebellion, led by General Francisco Franco....
against the Anti-Communist military uprising led by General Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco y Bahamonde was a Spanish general, dictator and head of state of Spain from October 1936 , and de facto regent of the nominally restored Kingdom of Spain from 1947 until his death in November, 1975...
, the Lincoln Brigadists composed the first completely integrated American fighting force.
Alonzo Watson died in February 1937 at the Battle of Jarama
Battle of Jarama
The Battle of Jarama was an attempt by General Franco's Nationalists to dislodge the Republican lines along the river Jarama, just east of Madrid, during the Spanish Civil War...
. Fellow veteran John Tisa recalls that Watson died in hand-to-hand combat.
His name occurs briefly as a historical character in Captain Blackman (1972), a novel written by African American writer John Alfred Williams and Bruce Palmer's
Bruce Palmer
Bruce Palmer was a Canadian musician notable for playing bass guitar in the folk rock band Buffalo Springfield.-Early years:Palmer was born and raised in Toronto Ontario, Canada...
They Shall Not Pass: A Novel of the Spanish Civil War (1971).