Robert Hale Merriman
Encyclopedia
Robert Hale Merriman was an American
professor of economics at the University of California
. He joined the Republican
forces in Spain during the Spanish Civil War
and commanded the Abraham Lincoln Battalion of the International Brigades
.
. To earn some extra money at school, he joined the Reserve Officers' Training Corps
(ROTC) where he received basic training with arms. A member of left-wing groups at the University of California
and friend of Robert Oppenheimer
, he was chosen to lead the volunteers in Spain
.
at their training camp in Albacete
. As few volunteers had any military experience, Merriman's ROTC experience meant he took over the training of the 428-man strong Lincoln Battalion
and, in late January, he became battalion commander. He held the rank of Captain of the Spanish Republic. .
The Lincoln Battalion first saw action at the Battle of Jarama
(6-27 February). They were one of the four battalions comprising the XV International Brigade
. Their role was to prevent Nationalist forces taking the main Madrid-Valencia road. The Lincolns took appalling casualties, particularly in the assault of Pingarrón, which became known as Suicide Hill. Merriman himself was seriously wounded and spent time as Chief of XV Brigade Staff. His place as battalion commander was taken by Martin Hourihan (a US Army veteran).
The depleted Lincolns next went into action at the Battle of Brunete
. Together with the depleted British Battalion
, and an understrength second US battalion (the George Washington Battalion, commanded by African-American Oliver Law
), they formed one regiment of the XV International Brigade. Of the 2,500 men of the XV who went into battle, only 1,000 effective soldiers remained.
in Aragon. Under heavy attack by Nationalist tanks and aircraft, the battalion was forced to retreat in the only available direction, Catalonia
and its boundary, the river Ebro
. On April 2, 1938, around the vineyards of Corbera d'Ebre
, near the key city of Gandesa
, twenty kilometers before the river, Merriman and his lieutenant, Edgar James Cody, were either killed in action or captured and executed some hours later.
on 27 June of the same year, while trying to recapture Gandesa.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professor of economics at the University of California
University of California
The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
. He joined the Republican
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....
forces in Spain during the Spanish Civil War
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...
and commanded the Abraham Lincoln Battalion of the International Brigades
International Brigades
The International Brigades were military units made up of volunteers from different countries, who traveled to Spain to defend the Second Spanish Republic in the Spanish Civil War between 1936 and 1939....
.
Early years
The son of a lumberjack, Merriman worked various odd jobs in order to make his way through the University of NevadaUniversity of Nevada, Reno
The University of Nevada, Reno , is a teaching and research university established in 1874 and located in Reno, Nevada, USA...
. To earn some extra money at school, he joined the Reserve Officers' Training Corps
Reserve Officers' Training Corps
The Reserve Officers' Training Corps is a college-based, officer commissioning program, predominantly in the United States. It is designed as a college elective that focuses on leadership development, problem solving, strategic planning, and professional ethics.The U.S...
(ROTC) where he received basic training with arms. A member of left-wing groups at the University of California
University of California
The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
and friend of Robert Oppenheimer
Robert Oppenheimer
Julius Robert Oppenheimer was an American theoretical physicist and professor of physics at the University of California, Berkeley. Along with Enrico Fermi, he is often called the "father of the atomic bomb" for his role in the Manhattan Project, the World War II project that developed the first...
, he was chosen to lead the volunteers in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
.
Career
Merriman moved to Spain together with his wife early in 1937 and joined the International BrigadesInternational Brigades
The International Brigades were military units made up of volunteers from different countries, who traveled to Spain to defend the Second Spanish Republic in the Spanish Civil War between 1936 and 1939....
at their training camp in Albacete
Albacete
Albacete is a city and municipality in southeastern Spain, 258 km southeast of Madrid, the capital of the province of Albacete in the autonomous community of Castile-La Mancha. The municipality had a population of c. 169,700 in 2009....
. As few volunteers had any military experience, Merriman's ROTC experience meant he took over the training of the 428-man strong Lincoln Battalion
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....
and, in late January, he became battalion commander. He held the rank of Captain of the Spanish Republic. .
The Lincoln Battalion first saw action 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...
(6-27 February). They were one of the four battalions comprising the XV International Brigade
XV International Brigade
The XV International Brigade fought for the Spanish Second Republic in the Spanish Civil War as a part of the International Brigades. It was mustered at Albacete in Spain, in January 1937, comprising many English-speaking volunteers - arranged into a mostly British British Battalion and a mostly...
. Their role was to prevent Nationalist forces taking the main Madrid-Valencia road. The Lincolns took appalling casualties, particularly in the assault of Pingarrón, which became known as Suicide Hill. Merriman himself was seriously wounded and spent time as Chief of XV Brigade Staff. His place as battalion commander was taken by Martin Hourihan (a US Army veteran).
The depleted Lincolns next went into action at the Battle of Brunete
Battle of Brunete
The Battle of Brunete , fought 15 miles west of Madrid, was a Republican attempt to alleviate the pressure exerted by the Nationalists on the capital and on the north during the Spanish Civil War...
. Together with the depleted British Battalion
British Battalion
The British Battalion was the 16th battalion of the International Brigades during the Spanish Civil War.- Early volunteers :A number of British volunteers, including Tom Wintringham and Nat Cohen, arrived in Spain during August-September 1936 and formed the Tom Mann Centuria - a rifle company in...
, and an understrength second US battalion (the George Washington Battalion, commanded by African-American Oliver Law
Oliver Law
Oliver Law was an African American communist and labor organizer, who fought for the Republic in the Spanish Civil War. He was the commander of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade for four days.-Background:...
), they formed one regiment of the XV International Brigade. Of the 2,500 men of the XV who went into battle, only 1,000 effective soldiers remained.
Death
Merriman led the battalion again during the Battle of TeruelBattle of Teruel
The Battle of Teruel was fought in and around the city of Teruel during the Spanish Civil War in December 1937 – February 1938. The combatants fought the battle during the worst Spanish winter in twenty years. It was one of the bloodier actions of the war. The city changed hands several times,...
in Aragon. Under heavy attack by Nationalist tanks and aircraft, the battalion was forced to retreat in the only available direction, Catalonia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
and its boundary, the river Ebro
Ebro
The Ebro or Ebre is one of the most important rivers in the Iberian Peninsula. It is the biggest river by discharge volume in Spain.The Ebro flows through the following cities:*Reinosa in Cantabria.*Miranda de Ebro in Castile and León....
. On April 2, 1938, around the vineyards of Corbera d'Ebre
Corbera d'Ebre
Corbera d'Ebre is a municipality in the comarca of la Terra Alta inCatalonia, Spain.This town was thoroughly destroyed during the Battle of the Ebro in the Spanish Civil War ....
, near the key city of Gandesa
Gandesa
Gandesa is the capital of the comarca of Terra Alta, in the province of Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain.-History:In the place known as Coll del Moro there is an ancient Iberian archaeological site belonging to the Ilercavones tribe that lived in this area before Roman times.Gandesa has a church with...
, twenty kilometers before the river, Merriman and his lieutenant, Edgar James Cody, were either killed in action or captured and executed some hours later.
Legacy
The battalion, now commanded by Milton Wolff, returned to the same ground during the Battle of the EbroBattle of the Ebro
The Battle of the Ebro was the longest and bloodiest battle of the Spanish Civil War...
on 27 June of the same year, while trying to recapture Gandesa.
Sources
- Eric Blaine Coleman, Some Men Put In Their Lives: Americans in the International Brigades, Spain 1936-1939, (2001)
- Anthony Beevor, Battle for Spain: The Spanish Civil War 1936-1939 (2006) ISBN 978-0297848325
- Hugh ThomasHugh ThomasHugh Thomas , is a British historian and life peer.Hugh Thomas may also refer to:* Hugh Thomas , American choral conductor, pianist and educator* Hugh Thomas , Australian rules football coach...
, The Spanish Civil War. (Revised edition 2003) ISBN 978-0141011615