Shane Harilall
Professor Maria Hernandez-Ojeda
HONS 2011J – Spanish Civil War in Literature and Film
18 December 2020
Personal Statement
I initially elected to partake in this class due to a total lack of knowledge concerning the Spanish Civil War. As far as I was concerned, the Spanish Civil War was another pointless conflict with little to no meaning. I cannot believe how wrong I was. I have since come to understand the significance of the Good Fight, and as such am remorseful for my initial feelings on the matter. However, I am also grateful for the experience, as I now understand the personal sacrifices and emotional resilience of the volunteers who risked their lives for the sake of others. Having done copious amounts of research on Steve Nelson and his endeavors both before and after the Spanish Civil War, I felt a personal connection to the man, despite only knowing the legend. I gained an admiration for him and found myself in an emotional state upon reading his obituary in the New York Times. And so, I write this to not only inform others of the live of Steve Nelson, but also to celebrate his life and attempt to contribute to the immortalization of this man. My only disappointment in this class, is the fact that I could not have taken it in person.
Unwavering Conviction: The Story of Steve Nelson
Following the events of the first World War, denizens of the world were terrified by the actions of fascist regimes such as Benito Mussolini’s Italy and Adolf Hitler’s Germany. Their brutal ideologies combined with their imperial-esque intentions allowed both Hitler and Mussolini to bolster their influence throughout many countries in Europe. Eventually, the fascist leaders extended a hand to Francisco Franco, a nationalist who wished to overthrow the Spanish Republic in Spain. Recognizing this as a spark that would engulf the world in the fires of war once more, many brave men and women from across the globe volunteered their lives in an effort to help the people of Spain in their resistance against Franco’s onslaught. Among these men and women is man who stood out above the rest; a natural-born leader of unparalleled conviction and will. A man who would stop at nothing to protect not only his own ideals, but the ideals of his fellow humans and comrades-in-arms.
The man in question is Steve Nelson, born in Croatia during 1903 as Stephen Mesarosh (Simkin, 1997). Nelson would soon immigrate to the United States at the ripe age of sixteen in search of greater opportunities for himself and his family. To ensure that he would find these opportunities, however, Nelson had to assume the identity of an American citizen by the name of Joseph Fleischinger, a name he had taken from his aunt’s husband. Unfortunately, this façade could not last forever, as he was eventually found out to be an impostor and had a date set for his deportation. The odds were in Nelson’s favor, however, as the deportation proceedings were abandoned within two years, allowing Nelson the time to earn a legal citizenship and settle down in Detroit at the age of 25 (Simkin, 1997).
After securing a solid foothold for himself, Nelson began to work on a foundation upon which he can stake his claim on a piece of the American Dream. This journey began with a labor-intensive job in a slaughterhouse, in which Nelson was subject to eleven-hour workdays with extraordinarily little breaks or downtime (Simkin, 1997). It was here that Nelson was met with the horrid work conditions that were characteristic of early-twentieth century slaughterhouses and meatpacking plants. It is likely that his ventures into the industry that Upton Sinclair referred to as “The Jungle” inspired Nelson’s desire for unionized labor, and subsequently, his socialist inclinations. Fortunately, Nelson’s next employment opportunity would be one that allowed him access to a trade union where he would go on to fully understand both the value of his labor and the atrocious practices endorsed by employers to save money for themselves. It was within this trade union that Nelson’s curiosity was ignited, eventually leading him to seek membership to the Socialist Labor Party (SLP), which he would soon leave for the Communist Party of the United States (CPUSA) due to him being “frustrated by a lack of action” on behalf of the SLP (Simkin, 1997).
Steve Nelson had begun to come into his own through his membership with the CPUSA, where he took on a full-time job as a party worker helping to organize socialist demonstrations. Of those demonstrations was the “International Unemployment Day” protest on March 6, 1930 (Simkin, 1997), for which Nelson and his fellow demonstrators were arrested and brutalized by the police. Despite his injuries, Nelson displayed impressive resilience and commitment to his ideals by pushing through the pain to “march with 75,000 demonstrators to demand unemployment insurance” (Simkin, 1997). In 1931 Nelson decided to further his socialist education by learning from the source, as such he enrolled in the International Lenin School in Moscow where he gained a grasp on the core concepts of socialism. This education would prove critical to his role as a political commissar during the Spanish Civil War. As if Nelson’s résumé had not been impressive enough, he also performed acts of espionage on behalf of the International Lenin School: “During his two-year stay there, Nelson was sent on clandestine missions to Germany, Switzerland, France, India, and China” (Haynes & Klehr, 2000). Even at the (relatively) young age of 28, Nelson had discovered much about himself and had already found the direction in his life, something that he would cherish and protect for the decades of hardship to come.
With the advent of Hitler and Mussolini’s fascist regimes threatening to plunge the world into another global conflict, no amount of joy from The Roaring 20s could prepare the Americans for another devastating war. Fear and worry began to spread throughout the United States, sentiments that were only calmed by promises by the government that the United States would not get itself involved in another global conflict. Seeing this as an opportunity to extend their influence over Europe, Mussolini and Hitler offered aid to Franco’s rebellion in the Spanish Civil War. As expected, the United States refused to support Spain’s resistance against Franco, essentially condemning the Spanish Republic to a gruesome death by the hand of fascism. Yet, amidst the chaos and discord, Steve Nelson remained steadfast and collected, volunteering his life to aid the Spanish resistance. Essentially, Nelson (among thousands of others) deemed it necessary to risk life and limb to defend democracy while their own country, the supposed capital of democracy, refused to act. In a 1986 interview with Salmagundi Magazine’s Donald L. Miller, Nelson himself revealed that he had no semblance of doubt or hesitation when volunteering for the war:
I got a call from Communist Party headquarters in New York City saying that the party had set up a committee to interview young people without families, and hopefully with some military experience, who wanted to fight in Spain. So, we lined up a bunch of us, seven or eight men, all local guys who were active in the Party of the area. All of us were desperately eager to go to Spain to fight fascism. Madrid was surrounded by fascist troops and we wanted to go to the aid of the Republicans (Miller, 1986 pp. 117).
Despite his eagerness to fight against fascism, Steve Nelson had the unfortunate fate of arriving in Spain directly following the Battle of Jarama, a catastrophic conflict often referred to as the “Disaster of Jarama”. Stephen Kelly of The Independent produced a piece on the Battle of Jarama, entitling it “Jarama: A walk through the valley of death”, an appropriate name considering the battle’s death toll of 15,000, of which 10,000 belonged to the Republican army. Despite coming face-to-face with the disheveled and demoralized remnants of the Republican army, Nelson’s conviction did not waver:
Nelson found the men at Jarama still demoralized by the February massacre. Their idea of a useful task was constructing a stone and cement monument to commemorate their dead comrades rather than deepening and draining their trenches, which in some places would have barely sufficed for a platoon of dwarves… Nelson believed in the efficacy of persuasion – men would do things his way but without quite realizing it (Eby, 2007).
As if he were a man who did not just bear witness to the utter destruction of thousands of lives, Nelson shifted into first gear and was appointed the title of political commissar, a high honor equivalent to that of a military commander. As political commissar, Nelson made it his number one priority to bolster the morale of his soldiers and to remind them of the reason for which they fight, an invaluable and indispensable resource for any military troop. However, Nelson did not intend to use his newfound authority to come down upon his men like a drill sergeant, he wished to instead elevate his men to his own level of determination and confidence through understanding and persuasion, a tactic that worked brilliantly for Nelson. Chris Brooks of The Volunteer notes Nelson’s compassion and persistence, “Steve epitomizes all that the Spanish People’s Army demands of a political commissar”, referring specifically to his status as a “tireless worker” who could always be found concerning himself with the welfare of his battalion, “concerned with the opinion of every comrade in the battalion, whether it be a question of winning a battle or buying a toothbrush” (Brooks, 2018). Suffice to say, Nelson managed to take the bruised and battered men he met after the Battle of Jarama and reinvigorate them, breathing new life into them as both a commander and as a friend. His efforts bore fruit as well, as the phrase “Don’t let ‘em get Steve!” became a war cry for the men of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade before every military engagement (Brooks, 2018).
At this point in time Steve Nelson the political commissar had become Steve Nelson the brigade commissar, and for good reason as well. Despite his overwhelming capacity for understanding and compassion, Nelson was no pushover on the battlefield. In fact, his strategic thinking and awareness guided the Lincoln-Washington Battalion out of the grips of death and towards victory instead. Towards the later stages of the war, the battalion needed to capture and push through the heavily guarded town of Belchite (Simkin, 1997). The primary issue with attempting to push into Belchite, however, was the fact that it was under constant surveillance by an enemy sniper who had a massive high-ground advantage over the foot soldiers below him. Had they attempted to capture the town without dealing with the sniper, it would have resulted in numerous casualties that the Republic Army could not afford. With the same courage he used to volunteer for the fight initially, Nelson offered to lead a diversionary assault with a few of his men to draw the sniper’s fire to allow the main brigade to capture Belchite. Though he and his men suffered major injuries in doing so, Nelson’s diversion gave the Lincoln-Washington Battalion enough time and cover to march into the town and capture it, claiming Belchite for the Republican Army (Simkin, 1997).
Despite the remarkable efforts of both Nelson and his men, the volunteers were forced to retreat from Spain having done all they could to aid the Republicans. Upon returning to the United States in the 1940s, Nelson was hit with the grim realization that his battle had not ended with his efforts in the Spanish Civil War. Despite coming home as a commendable war veteran, Nelson still returned home as an outwardly supporter of socialism amidst the McCarthyism era, in which political tensions were at an all-time high. As an era of fearmongering and political suppression, even being associated with someone who was a known communist would be a cause for alarm. Many socialists were accused of treason and were subject to aggressive investigations and interrogations. In true Orwellian fashion, American officials placed socialists on trial for nothing but their thoughts and personal beliefs, attacking them and subjecting them to baseless accusations for years.
Nelson himself was a victim of McCarthyism. Following a raid on the CPUSA’s Pennsylvania headquarters, Nelson was arrested along with several other communist party leaders and charged with the Pennsylvania Sedition Act on the grounds that he and his fellow party leaders were planning on leading a violent revolution to overthrow and take control of the federal government. Nelson would be unjustly charged with two decades in prison and extremely large fines. Never being one to back down from a fight, he challenged the law and fought for an appeal which never came, as he was then charged with the same crime under the Federal Smith Act. Of course, Nelson challenged it once more, eventually reaching the floor of the United States Supreme Court, leading to the case of Pennsylvania v. Nelson (1956) (Pace, 1993). In Nelson, the Court ruled that the state legislature (Pennsylvania Smith Act) would be invalidated by the federal legislature (Federal Smith Act) due to several clauses pertaining to the supremacy of the federal law (Oyez, Pennsylvania v. Nelson). Through the invalidation of the Pennsylvania Smith Act, Nelson would be free of his initial charges but would still have to stand trial for the charges made under the Federal Smith Act (Pace, 1993). Thankfully, due to the end of the McCarthyism era as well as the tedious task of trying Nelson for a fourth time, the case against Nelson was dropped and he was allowed to walk as a free man.
In 1957, Steve Nelson cut his ties to the Communist Party after learning about the atrocities committed by Joseph Stalin (Simkin, 1997) and after hearing Nikita S. Khrushchev’s public denouncement of Stalin’s actions and misusage of socialism as a guise (Pace, 1993). Though he renounced his political ideology, Nelson refused to forsake his fellow brothers and sisters-in-arms, and eventually accepted the mantle of “National Commander of the Veterans of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade (VALB)” (Simkin, 1997). Nelson, as expected, used his position as a means of promoting and inspiring activism, leading protests against the Vietnam War and aiding in the establishment of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade Archives. Nelson held his position of National Commander of the VALB until his death in 1993. A New York Times Article celebrating his life was published shortly after, commemorating his inspirational endeavors and further immortalizing him as a hero who stood for those who could not stand for themselves.
Thankfully, Mr. Nelson is survived by his wonderful daughter, Josephine Yurek, who I have had the honor to interview. Mrs. Yurek provided an extremely personal insight into the life of Steve Nelson, highlighting his struggles in a manner that underscored his emotional resilience. Mrs. Yurek notes that during his trial, Nelson was not given a trial lawyer, and no one would provide legal defense to a known communist at the time. As a result, Nelson took the stand without a lawyer and still managed to achieve a legal victory before the District Court, the Appeals Court, and even the United States Supreme Court. Due to how strong anti-communist sentiments were at the time, Nelson and his family were often cut off by members of his extended family, who were afraid to associate with them. Essentially, whatever challenges and troubles Steven Nelson and his family faced after returning from the Spanish Civil War, they faced alone, especially after Nelson severed connections at the CPUSA. Additionally, Mrs. Yurek reflects on her childhood growing up with her father, lamenting that she and her family were under constant surveillance by intelligence agencies such as the FBI. Under these conditions she learned to be careful in what she said and who she said it to. Despite the challenges she faced due to her father’s actions, Mrs. Yurek has expressed her admiration and love for her father and his activist work. She even encourages the young people of this generation to do as her father would do and stand for what they truly believe in, regardless of the obstacles in their path.
Works Cited
Brooks, Chris. “Lincoln Battalion Commissar by H. A.” The Volunteer, 16 Sept. 2018, albavolunteer.org/2018/08/lincoln-battalion-commissar-by-h-a/.
Comrades and Commissars: the Lincoln Battalion in the Spanish Civil War, by Cecil D. Eby, Penn State Univ Press, 2013.
Haynes, John Earl, and Harvey Klehr. Venona: Decoding Soviet Espionage in America. Yale
(john@spartacus-educational.com), John Simkin. Spartacus Educational, Spartacus Educational, spartacus-educational.com/SPnelsonS.htm.
Kelly, Stephen. “Jarama: A Walk through the Valley of Death.” The Independent, Independent Digital News and Media, 13 Feb. 2018, www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/jarama-walk-through-valley-death-2244066.html.
Miller, Donald L., and Steve Nelson. “Fighting In Spain: A Conversation With Steve Nelson.” Salmagundi, no. 76/77, 1987, pp. 113–132. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/40547966. Accessed 14 Dec. 2020.
Pace, Eric. “Steve Nelson, Ex-Communist Tied To Ruling on Sedition, Dies at 90.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 14 Dec. 1993, www.nytimes.com/1993/12/14/obituaries/steve-nelson-ex-communist-tied-to-ruling-on-sedition-dies-at-90.html.
“Pennsylvania v. Nelson.” Oyez, www.oyez.org/cases/1955/10. Accessed 15 Dec. 2020.
University Press, 1999. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt1npk87. Accessed 17 Dec. 2020.