Letters from the Spanish Civil War

A U.S. Volunteer Writes Home

Peter N. Carroll, Fraser Ottanelli

• Publisher: The Kent State University Press
• Year: 2013
• ISBN:
  9781612776842
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: North American History
• Index: History

A candid description of warfare at one of the first battlefields of World War II

Letters from the Spanish Civil War provides a unique perspective into the motivations that led a young man from the American heartland to defy U.S. neutrality and travel to Spain to fight in defense of democracy against Nazi- and Fascist-backed aggression. Born in a small town in rural Ohio, Carl Geiser came from a deeply religious German-speaking family that had recently emigrated from Switzerland. The onset of the Great Depression exposed Geiser to the reality of hard times and discrimination, challenging his belief that hard work would bring self-reliance and just rewards. This awakening led him to question the logic and values of capitalism and to become active in a range of youth and student organizations linked to the Communist Party.

Following the 1936 military uprising that was supported by Hitler and Mussolini against Spain's legally elected Republican government, Geiser decided that more needed to be done than simply delivering speeches and raising money to fight fascism. Joining with over 35, 000 volunteers from fifty countries to cross the Pyrenees and help defend the beleaguered and isolated government, Geiser acted on his personal political ideology, which was based on American small-town communal values and internationalist ideals of class-based solidarity.

In Letters from the Spanish Civil War, possibly the largest surviving collection of letters written by a U.S. volunteer during this conflict, Geiser eloquently describes to family and friends the deep personal motivations that led him to risk his life to defend democracy in a faraway country. His detailed descriptions of the daily reality of warfare in one of the first battlefields of World War II sought to inspire those back home to awaken the U.S. public opinion and policy makers to the global threat of Fascist expansionism.

CARL GEISER’S LETTERS

[HANDWRITTEN ON CUNARD LINE STATIONERY]

Sunday [April 18, 1937]

Dear Impy:

Just finished watching “Charlie Chan at the Opera,” for we have movies every other day or so. And now I will take time out to write you a while.

Everything is going marvelously. The only thing missing is you (and especially since there is not even one pretty girl on board—they are practically all English girls and very plain.)

This is by far the best boat I have ever traveled on, 3rd here exceeding Tourist on the Hamburg American Line.⁴ The Georgic boasts 27,000 tons, but is a bit slow. We’ll probably hit Ireland (Queenstown or Cobh) on Tuesday & Havre Wednesday—and then on to Paris.

The food is good. A special menu card for each meal—and quite a wide choice, and quite well prepared.

We have had excellent weather so far—the 2nd day out was a bit stormy—and a few became seasick, but not I. The majority of us haven’t missed a meal.

There is a slight problem to entertain ourselves—of course, I read “Babbit[t]”—and then “the Good Earth” by Pearl Buck which was well worth reading. Now I am in the middle of “Adventures of an Alpine Guide” written by Christian Klucher. It makes me very homesick for the Swiss Alps, especially since he speaks of the Matterhorn, Wetterhorn and Jungfrau, both of which can be seen from my Grand uncle’s window—I don’t know exactly how long it will be before I get to them, but I hope quite soon.⁵

Besides this we play Ping-Pong, Shuffle Board, and a few similar games. Tournaments are being run off in these. I was eliminated in the first round of Ping-pong but am in the Shuffle Board finals (15 entered). My opponent is a Polish lawyer—a slight man with glasses. The final play-off is tomorrow.

I have also learned how to play Stud & draw poker—but of course no gambling.

The passengers are an excellent group. My table is made up of a group of young fellows—on my left is the Polish Lawyer, on my right a Swede from Michigan on his way to Sweden, an illustrator on his way around the world, and a Brooklynite on his way to Roumania [sic] I believe.⁶

There are many other interesting people on board—and quite a number of Irishmen & Scotchmen. The English crew look[s] like a fine bunch although several scarcely seem more than 14 years old.

My only mishap so far has been a sprained wrist obtained while manhugging [Geiser changed “manhugging” to “armwrestling” when later transcribing the letters] with the illustrator. But it is much better now.

I often think of you, and wonder what you are doing. I certainly left you with a handful of work. But I know my Impy will come through with colors flying.

(60 hour Intermission)

Took the shuffleboard championship—supposed to play for 2 out of 3 games, but took the first one in spite of fact score was 16 to 2 for me (game was 21). Now everyone is trying to beat me, but so far none have been able to.

Today, 200 miles of the Irish Coast, we are rolling delightfully. So Willie, the Illustrator, and I have been amusing ourselves at Shuffleboard, making all kinds of trick curves when ever the ship lies on one side or other.

It seems our first stop is Cobh, Ireland, instead of Queenstown, which we should reach tomorrow afternoon. & Then Havre by 7 Wednesday evening, making our sea voyage eight days long. There are over a thousand people on board including the crew. Joe, the waiter at our table, who bummed the freights in the States tells us he is going to the 20th Anniversary Celebration in Moscow on November Seventh. And he seems like such a nice chap!

We have a few splendid Scotch types onboard, a head 15 inches long & 6 inches wide. And then there are many others as well.

It’s 9:30 now about 5:30 New York time. So I suppose you are either preparing your supper, or going out somewhere for it.

Ray, the Swede, who sits next to me, writes 3 full pages a day to his girl friend—can you imagine that? It sets a very bad example for the rest.

The ocean has been rather quiet all day long, and very grey, reflecting the gloomy sky. We were following about 100 yards behind a strong shower of rain for quite a long time this morning, but it seemed we travel about 2 or 3 miles an hour more slowly than the clouds. And still we haven’t seen a ship, or a whale, or an iceberg.

By the way, I wasn’t able to take Herman’s present along with me. Tell him he should bring it over.

[HANDWRITTEN ON CUNARD STATIONERY; CONTINUED ON PREVIOUS LETTER ABOARD THE GEORGIC]

Wednesday Afternoon [April 21, 1937]

Dear Impy—

It turned out Cobh & Queenstown are the same place—Queenstown being the Irish name.⁷ We anchored in its harbor last night at 7 and the passengers were taken off by tender to the city.

In about 3 hours we will be in Havre, from where I intend to mail this letter.

Played several very tough games of shuffleboard this morning, but won them all, & this afternoon the Polish lawyer entertained us with stories. Babbitt I have donated to the Ship’s Library. Klucher’s book was certainly inspiring. The praise given him by his Herrs whom he led over the Alps reveal him as perhaps the greatest Alpine climber up until the present.

We are now entering the Channel, and it is quite smooth. It is supposed to be quite rough ordinarily, but this is the second time I am crossing it in good weather. This morning the Berengaria overtook us.⁸ I understand it is now making its final trip. Today we constantly pass all kinds of boats, mostly freighters and a number of sailing sloops.

For the last few evenings we have been playing a very interesting game, played with cards, called Fantail. The aim is to get rid of your cards first. The winner has the privilege of whacking the others over the wrist with his 2 fingers the same number of whacks as the latter holds cards. The top of my wrist is consequently a bit tender, but not really sore. My other one still bothers me a bit.

Last night I received an ashtray as a prize. So I gave it to an old gentleman who took a fancy to it.

Thursday morning, April 22

So now I am in Paris. Arrived here at 11 last night after a 3-hour train ride from Le Havre, during which the Polish lawyer insisted on entertaining us with dirty stories. But we had a sandwich on the train that was a knockout, a thick slice of ham between a loaf of bread sliced in two.

Since I haven’t been out in broad daylight yet, I can’t know what the city looks like, but I hope to see part of it today.

I’ll be writing you by every Post, but in the meantime, don’t worry, for I am getting along splendidly. And I am wondering how you are getting along with all those things I left you to do. Eliza undoubtedly will help you a great deal. In the meantime, keep your chin up.

With love, Carl

[HANDWRITTEN]

May 9, 1937
Albacete, Spain

Dear Brother Bennet & Grace:⁹

Probably you are a bit surprised to hear I am in Spain fighting with the army of the Spanish Republic. And so I suppose you want to know why I am here.

But before I do this, I’ll let you know I am well, busy and happy, and quite safe for the time being.

The reasons I am here is because I want to do my part to prevent a second world war, which would without doubt, draw in the United States and seriously set back our civilization. And secondly, because all of our democratic and liberty-loving training makes me anxious to fight fascism, and to help the Spanish people drive out the fascist invaders sent in by Hitler & Mussolini.

You probably have 2 questions, or rather objections to my being here. One, that the fight here is between the “Reds” and the church & democracy, and 2 that my being here tends to draw the USA into war.

If these things are true then I actually should not be here. And if you think they are true, you have been badly and maybe purposefully deceived. And in the time I have been here, I have been able to ascertain without doubt, that the fight here is between democracy and fascism, and not between communism & fascism or democracy.

Last July 16, an uprising was begun against the democratic legally elected Republican government of Spain. It was organized and financed by Hitler & Mussolini. Fortunately the leader of the uprising was killed by a plane crash as he was returning from Berlin to Spain.¹⁰ The uprising was supported by few Spaniards, notably the big landowners who have starved the Spanish people for generations, the largest capitalists, the nobility, and the majority of the Army, especially the officers, and certain sections of the hierarchy of the Catholic Church who were rich & powerful & often held large lands.

The uprising would have been squelched within a short time, if Hitler & Mussolini had not sent in tanks, airplanes, weapons, and men, until today they are literally invading Spain.

What would happen if Franco, Hitler, & Mussolini were victorious? It would mean that fascism would be stronger everywhere, & fascism means war. Democratic France would be encircled by fascist states preparing for war. The conquest of Spain is part of the fascist preparation for a new world war.

On which side is the church? The great majority of the Catholics are on the side of the government. How much the fascists love Catholics may be seen from Franco’s wiping out of a village of 10,000 in Basque territory which is completely Catholic.¹¹ Also you know what Hitler is doing to the Church in Germany.

So you can see, it is a matter of checking fascism and war, of preserving democracy & peace. We ought not think that if the fascists take Spain we are safe, no more than we ought to think our house is safe if the neighbor’s is on fire. Protect yours by helping your neighbor put out his fire. That is why the idea of “neutrality,” of keep out of Spain, is very wrong and harmful. Everyone who wants democracy and peace must help the Spanish government, and right away. Frankly, if the Spanish government is victorious, Germany & Italy will be surrounded by more or less democratic countries, and we shall have an excellent chance of avoiding another world war.

I am a member of a machine gun crew in the American Battalion of the International Brigades. And the members of the International Brigades that had come from 52 countries, (I don’t know if there are any more countries) and are representing the working people of his country, and here to fight fascism & war. And it looks now, with the continued support of the peace & democracy loving people of the world, that the Spanish government will win in time, and that fascism will be greatly weakened. But our powerful democratic Republic of the United States is not doing enough, is not carrying its share of the fight for peace & democracy. The rich & reactionary men of the USA, who too want fascism, have many Americans deceived and inactive. That is something we have to change.

A few words about my life here. At present I am perfecting my knowledge of the operation of the machine gun. Food is plain, not enough of course, it consists mostly of soups, beans, rice, bread, bully beef & wine. Since there is a shortage of water one has to drink wine. Milk, eggs, chocolate, most vegetables, pastries, are not served and can be bought only occasionally. Soap is also lacking, and we feel this more than anything else. But on the whole, the food is good, the weather quite warm & sunny & the exercise very beneficial.

Quite a few of my friends are here both from New York & Cleveland. And our relations with the Spanish people are very, very cordial.

I wish I could writ...