Description of document: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Summary Memorandum on The Veterans of The Abraham Lincoln Brigade 1937 – 1948 Released date: 19-June-2008 Posted date: 03-July-2008 Title of Document As above Date/date range of document: Document undated, but must have been prepared 1948 or later Source of document: Federal Bureau of Investigation Record Information/Dissemination Section 170 Marcel Drive Winchester, VA 22602-4843 Note: A number of pages withheld in full; see release letter. The governmentattic.org web site (“the site”) is noncommercial and free to the public. The site and materials made available on the site, such as this file, are for reference only. The governmentattic.org web site and its principals have made every effort to make this information as complete and as accurate as possible, however, there may be mistakes and omissions, both typographical and in content. The governmentattic.org web site and its principals shall have neither liability nor responsibility to any person or entity with respect to any loss or damage caused, or alleged to have been caused, directly or indirectly, by the information provided on the governmentattic.org web site or in this file. U.S. DepartmentofJustice FederalBureauofInvestigation Washington, D.C. 20535 June 19,2008 Subject: SUMMARYMEMORANDUM ONTHEVETERANS OFTHE ABRAHAM LINCOLN BRIGADE (1937-1948) FOIPANo. 1110916-000 The enclosed documents were reviewed underthe Freedom of Information/PrivacyActs (FOIPA), Title5, UnitedStatesCode, Section552/552a. Deletionshavebeen madetoprotectinformationwhichisexemptfromdisclosure, withtheappropriateexemptionsnotedonthepagenexttotheexcision. Inaddition,adeletedpageinformationsheetwas insertedinthefiletoindicatewherepageswerewithheldentirely. Theexemptionsusedtowithholdinformationaremarked belowand explained on the enclosed Form OPCA-16a: Section 552 Section 552a 0(b)(1) 0(b)(7)(A) 0(d)(5) 0(b)(2) 0(b)(7)(B) 00)(2) o(b)(3) _ 0(b)(7)(C) 0(k)(1) 0(b)(7)(D) 0(k)(2) 0(b)(7)(E) 0(k)(3) O(b)(7)(F) 0(k)(4) 0(b)(4) 0(b)(8) 0(k)(5) 0(b)(5) 0(b)(9) 0(k)(6) 0(b)(6) 0(k)(7) 177 page(s) were reviewed and 155 page(s) are being released. o Document(s)were locatedwhich originated with, orcontained information concerning other Governmentagency(ies) [OGA]. This information has been: o referred to the OGAfor reviewand directresponseto you. o referred to the OGAforconsultation. The FBI will correspond with you regarding this information when theconsultation isfinished. o You havethe rightto appeal anydenials inthis release. Appeals should bedirected in writing to the Director, OfficeofInformation and Privacy, U.S. DepartmentofJustice,1425 NewYork Ave., NW. Suite 11050,Washington, D.C. 20530-0001 within sixtydaysfrom the dateofthis letter. The envelopeand the lettershould beclearlymarked "FreedomofInformation Appeal" or"InformationAppeal." Pleasecite the FOIPAnumberassigned to your requestso thatit may be easily identified. D Theenclosed material isfrom the main investigativefile(s) in which the sUbject(s)ofyourrequestwas thefocus ofthe investigation. Oursearch located additional references, infiles relating to other individuals, ormatters, which mayormay not beaboutyoursubject(s). Ourexperience hasshown, when ident, references usuallycontain information similarto the information processed inthe mainfile(s). Because ofoursignificantbacklog, we havegiven priorityto processing onlythe main investigativefile(s). Ifyou wantthe references, you mustsubmitaseparate requestforthem inwriting, andtheywill be reviewed atalaterdate, astime and resources permit. D See additional informationwhichfollows. Sincerelyyours, David M. Hardy Section Chief Recordllnformation Dissemination Section Records ManagementDivision Enclosure(s) EXPLANATION OF EXEMPTIONS SUBSECTIONS OF TITLE 5, UNITED STATES CODE, SECTION 552 (b)( I) (A) specifically authorized under criteria established by an Executive order to be kept secret in the interest of national defense or foreign pol icy and (B) are in fact properly classified to such Executive order; (b)(2) related solely to the internal personnel rules and practices of an agency; (b)(3) specifically exempted from disclosure by statute (other than section 552b of this title), provided that such statute(A) requires that the matters be withheld from the public in such a manner as to leave no discretion on issue, or (B) establishes particular criteria for withholding or refers to particular types of matters to be withheld; (b)(4) trade secrets and commercial or financial information obtained from a person and privileged or confidential; (b)(5) inter-agency or intra-agency memorandums or letters which would not be available by law to a party other than an agency in litigation with the agency; (b)(6) personnel and medical files and similar files the disclosure of which would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy; (b)(7) records or information compiled for law enforcement purposes, but only to the extent that the production of such law enforcement records or information ( A ) could be reasonably be expected to interfere with enforcement proceedings, ( B ) would deprive a person ofa right to a fair trial or an impartial adjudication, (C) could be reasonably expected to constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy, ( D ) could reasonably be expected to disclose the identity of confidential source, including a State, local, or foreign agency or authority or any private institution which furnished information on a confidential basis, and, in the case of record or information compiled by a criminal law enforcement authority in the course of a criminal investigation, or by an agency conducting a lawful national security intelligence investigation, information furnished by a confidential source, ( E ) would disclose techniques and procedures for law enforcement investigations or prosecutions, or would disclose guidelines for law enforcement investigations or prosecutions if such disclosure could reasonably be expected to risk circumvention of the law, or ( F ) could reasonably be expected to endanger the life or physical safety of any individual; (b)(8) contained in or related to examination, operating, or condition reports prepared by, on behalf of, or for the use of an agency responsible for the regulation or supervision of financial institutions; or (b)(9) geological and geophysical information and data, including maps, concerning wells. SUBSECTIONS OF TITLE 5, UNITED STATES CODE, SECTION 552a (d)(5) information compiled in reasonable anticipation ofa civil action proceeding; (j)(2) material reporting investigative efforts pertaining to the enforcement of criminal law including efforts to prevent, control, or reduce crime or apprehend criminals; (k)( J) information which is currently and properly classified pursuant to an Executive order in the interest of the national defense or foreign policy, for example, information involving intelligence sources or methods; (k)(2) investigatory material compiled for law enforcement purposes, other than criminal, which did not result in loss ofa right, benefit or privilege under Federal programs, or which would identify a source who furnished information pursuant to a promise that hislher identity would be held in confidence; (k)(3) material maintained in connection with providing protective services to the President of the United States or any other individual pursuant to the authority of Title 18, United States Code, Section 3056; (k)(4) required by statute to be maintained and used solely as statistical records; (k)(5) investigatory material compiled solely for the purpose of determining suitability, eligibility, or qualifications for Federal civilian employment or for access to classified information, the disclosure of which would reveal the identity of the person who furnished information pursuant to a promise that his/her identity would be held in confidence; (k)(6) testing or examination material used to determine individual qualifications for appointment or promotion in Federal Government service the release of which would compromise the testing or examination process; (k)(7) material used to determine potential for promotion in the armed services, the disclosure of which would reveal the identity of the person who furnished the material pursuant to a promise that hislher identity would be held in confidence. FBlIDOJ FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION FOIPA DELETED PAGE INFORMATION SHEET Serial Description - COVER SHEET Total Deleted Page(s) - 22 Page 148 - b6, b7C Page 151 - b6, b7C Page 153 - b6, b7C Page 154 - b6, b7C Page 155 - b6, b7C Page 156 - b6, b7C Page 157 - b6, b7C Page 158 - b6, b7C Page 159 - b6, b7C Page 160 - b6, b7C Page 162 - b6, b7C Page 163 - b6, b7C Page 165 - b6, b7C Page 166 - b6, b7C Page 167 - b6, b7C Page 168 - b6, b7C Page 169 - b6, b7C Page 170 - .b6, b7C Page 171 - b6, b7C Page 174 - b6, b7C Page 175 - b6, b7C Page 176 - b6, b7C XXX.AJ\AAAAAAAA.AI\AAAAAAAAA X Deleted Pagels) X X NQ Duplication Fee X X for tliis Paae X "'( - ',-..f:. _. .. .. ~ ,.~~ ,_.~. ~;. ( ~.l. '"'IIi"'~( / If I ( , ,,/ .-r' " ­ , '" SlMMARY ).:Ji1I.ORANDUM ON TH1i: Vji;TERANS OF 'mE ABRAHAM LINCOLN ERIGAD~ ~ 1937 - 1948 ~FEOERAL BUHfAU Of INV£Srl~AflON u, s. DEPAHl MEN] OF JOSTle!! ~ _,-1 TABU: OF CON'i'..;;i\TS rages P.l31"ACE l-1v SSCTIOl: r :SPAI!>! Ar;O ':.'HE CIVIL .;',,11. . . . . . . . . Background•• • • • • • • • • • • • • • •• 1 . . . Spanish Civil ~:ar • • • • • • • • • • • ••• • • • • • • 1-3 S~CTION II SCl..& CO:.1.l.mLST ASP,,:;cT3 TO 'llL1 BACKG;LQUNJ OF 'iRE 3FAtaSH crvn. :;AR COnil!lU~1ism A ..~inor j,:'orce In Spain before 1he Civil -.:ar • • • • • 4-8 ialse Liberalism Strenr:thened COlwlWlism In Spain•• • • • • • • 8-11 ltussian Intervention strqthened COIlIlIunism In Spain. • • • • • • 11-17 S';;~1'lOi. ill .I.E"; 1:..; ·l.;;i.(Ni~ 'l'lOKAI. b;UGAU~ Ori6in ilnd .rurpose. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 18-22 1,u,llerical Stren,;th And Composition. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 22 . . . . . The ~olitical C~.~is5ars. • • • • ••••• • • • 23-24 Lnportance. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 24-26 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. · . . . . . Future Plans. 26-27 Pages . . Non-Communist Sources • • • •••• • • • • • • • • • • 28-32 . . . Significance Today••• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • )2-41. SECTION rl 'mE ABRAHAM mCOIl; BRIGADE Backg1"Qlnd.. • • • • • • •••••••••••••••••••• 42-44 Relationship Of The Canmunist International To The Abraham Lincoln Brigaele. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 44-45 The Communist Part7 Of The United states. • • • • • • • • • • • 45-49 Relationabip Of The Conmunist Part7 of The United States 'to The Abraham Lincoln Brigade••••••••• 50-52 C.ommunist PartY' Of The United States Assists The Abraham Lincoln Brigade In Spain••• • • • • • • • • • • 52 Public Opinion In The U1".ited states On The Spanish CivU iiar • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • .• • • • • 53-56 D~rect Communist Aid. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 56-57 Indirect Aid Ul1der COIIIIlwUst Insp1ration. • • • • • • • • • • • 57-59 Aiel From Other Nations; • • • • •••••• ••••••••• 60-6) The Communist PartY' or Spain. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 63-70 70-75 The ;~uestion Of Democrac7 • • • • • • • • • • •••• • • •• • . . . . . . . The Issue or Fascism. • • • • • • • • • • • • 75-76 or The Spanish Civil ~iar In The Focus The World-~iide Revolutionary Corrmunist liovement ••••••••• 77-79 _. Pages COIIlIIlunillt PartT Functionaries Of The United States Vfuo Went To Spain. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 79-82 The Character Of The 4braham Lincoln Brigade As Reflected B1' Its Methods In Spain. • • • • • • • • • • • • 82-B7 SECTIC»I V VET1!2ANS OF THE ABRAH~ LDIOOLN BRIGADE ·. Background. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •• 88-92 · . · . The Veterana And \torld ii'ar II • • • • • • • • ••••• 93-95 The Veterane Cond.n All Defense Preparations • • • • • • • • • 96-98 . . . The Veterans Picket The White Houae ••••• • •• • • • 99-99 The Effect ot Soviet Ruslia's Entrance Into World lIar n. • •• 99-101 · . . . . The Veterane And Soviet Russia. • • • • • • • • • • • 101-103 The Veterans And Spa1n. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •• 10..106' Veterans Polic1' As Renected At The National Convention Of 1946. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 106-108 The Veterans And Earl Browder • • • • ••• • • • • • • • • • • 108-109 Decorationa Received FranA Foreign Official. • • • • • • • •• 109-110 Veterans Act!viti.. Dur.i ng 19~7 An4 1948. • • • • • • • • • •• nO-lll . The Veterana And The CoIIIIl.un1at Party: Of The United states • •• 111-1l3 National OUictire .ADd Bo8rd 1l8llbers • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 114-119 Pagee SECTION VI StltiMARY STATiUNT .. . The Spanish CiYU \far • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • ~ The International "Brigade•• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 120-121 The Abraham Lincoln Brigade • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • l2l 'lbe Veterans'Of 'lbe Abraham Lincoln Bri~ade • • • • • • • • • • 121 A Secllrit7 Probl•• • • • • • ••••••• • • • • • • • • • • 121-128 Espionage Sabotage ADUENOW Partial List Of Veterans ot 'lbe Abraham Lincoln Brigade Reported To Have Served In The United States A.rmy, Navy, aM llercbant ~arin. During n. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... World ·iler 129-163 j i.