Leon Ramotar

HONS 2011J

Hunter College-CUNY

Professor: María Hernández-Ojeda

Helene Weissman

Personal Statement

Helene Weissman led a fascinating life. She was neither a soldier nor a doctor, yet she helped the people of Spain as a liaison, teacher, and administrator. She collected numerous supplies to fuel the supporters of the Spanish Republic. As a Hunter College student this essay allows me both to rescue a Spanish Civil War volunteer from obscurity, and reveal the rich history of famous alum. Uncovering a volunteer’s life from the unknown to the surface has concretely helped me fathom the burning questions that the Spanish Civil War sparks. Even though she had a wonderful life with her husband and children in the United States, it was a cognitive mission to help the people of Spain. She was determined to make a difference, and nothing would stop her.

The political and social situation of the United States did not affect Helene Weissman’s ability and status as a woman to travel to a foreign country and help those in need the best way she could. Helene Weissman set a precedent in that despite political beliefs and affiliations individuals should come together for a common good especially for those who understand political corruption and turmoil. Helene Weissman made the ultimate sacrifice; leaving her children behind while she and her husband traveled across the country to serve as volunteers and try to bring an end to fascism.
The Abraham Lincoln Brigade Archives, located in the NYU Tamiment Library has become a instrumental locus for my research, as it opened the Pandora’s Box to the letters, postcards, interviews, photographs and handwritten documents that creates the introduction to the life of Helene Weissman. During my first visit to this archive I learned about Steve Nelson, Salaria Kee O’Reilly and other famous volunteers who sacrificed their lives for Spanish Republican ideas. There I realized that I needed to search for a volunteer that was relatively unknown. My goal was to free this person’s life from obscurity and bring them to light with the resources and information that were available for me. Due to the efforts of the librarians, Professor Hernandez-Ojeda’s and my own will I was able to find Helene Weissman who will be remembered for her contribution and efforts in the Spanish Civil War. She stood as a symbol of courage and bravery not only in the United States, but also in France, and Spain.

During my second visit to this archive I focused my research solely on Helene Weissman. The Francis Patai papers have keenly given me insight on the intentions of Helene Weissman and her mission in adding Spain as a volunteer in the Spanish Civil War. The various transcripts depict the various questions that Helene answered in an interview. They revealed an abundance of information in regards to her life pre, during and post Civil War. I am able to see the positions she had held and her liaison between Spain and France. Also, I was able to understand the type of welcoming she received upon her arrival and return to Spain and the United States. The Fredericka Martin photographs gave me the opportunity to visualize the war efforts of Helene Weissman in the United States and in Spain. The photography also gave me an idea of her current feelings during the specific time period she was in Spain, and how the shift of Fascism changed the aftermath of Spain’s status quo. The Fredericka Martin Papers allowed me to see letters and postcards handwritten by Helene Weissman during and after the Spanish Civil War. The letters and postcards helped me analyze and fathom the mixed feelings and tension that had arisen given that she was affiliated with a political triangle between the United States, France and Spain. The letters also help me dig up her role in the Spanish Civil War and how her ex-husband, Oscar Weissman, shaped the aftermath of her illness forcing her to return home.

Introduction

The Spanish Civil War (1936 – 1939) has come to symbolize the conflict between the ideologies of liberalism, socialism and communism versus conservatism, traditionalism and fascism. At the beginning of the 20th century, Spain was caught in a sociopolitical identity crisis. A division between traditionalists and modernizers polarized Spanish society. In February of 1939, Franco’s Nationalist faction reached the sea, completely surrounding and cutting off the Republic. Unfortunately, in the next month the Republic surrenders. The Spanish Civil War was over. Franco will establish a personalist, Fascist dictatorship that will rule Spain until November 20th, 1975.

Although for the foreign powers the war was ‘limited’, for Spanish citizens it was a ‘total’ war as well as a civil war. Propaganda was used on both sides to ‘dehumanize’ the enemy, even though that enemy was from the same country. Meanwhile, the targeting of civilians in bombing raids, symbolized internationally in the bombing on the Basque town of Guernica, offered a chilling premonition of what was to come in World War II. There were no lines drawn between civilian and combatant deaths. Militarily, the Spanish Civil War was fought at a ‘crossroads’ in the evolution of modern warfare. For example, in some cases cavalry charges proved effective, as in the Nationalist attack north of Teruel in February 1938. However, the importance of new technology – particularly the dominance of airpower – in future wars became clear in Spain, shown in by the crushing of the major Republican offensives of 1937 and 1938 by the combined arms of the Condor Legion. Indeed, one of the reasons that the war lasted so long was due to the fact that neither side managed consistently to gain control of the air. Control of the sea was also important, and the Italians played a significant role in maintaining supply routes for the Nationalists.

The story of Helene Weissman unravels the experiences of American volunteer soldiers (the Abraham Lincoln Brigade), comprised of approximately 2800 American volunteers who fought with the Republicans during the Spanish Civil War. Helene Weissman’s contributions as a teacher, interpreter, liaison, mother, and medical office worker embarked an inspirational story under harsh and even life threatening circumstances. The courage and bravery of Helene Weissman proves that no matter what ethnicity, race or gender, the shared goal of freeing Spain and promoting democratic freedom supersedes all.

Her Life

Helene Propp Weissman was born on March 15, 1910 in New York City. She graduated from Barnard College after two years followed by her graduate work at Hunter College for about three years after her marriage. She was married to another Abraham Lincoln Brigade volunteer, Oscar Israel Weissman, a doctor. As a volunteer, Helene Weissman was responsible for clerical work and served as a liaison. She sailed to Spain in April 1937 aboard the Normandie. Once in the Iberian Peninsula, in addition to the clerical services she provided, Helene Weissman served with the Medical services as a French interpreter. She also performed many administrative tasks and later headed a day camp for refugee children. After becoming ill in April 1938 she traveled to her parent’s home in Amsterdam to recover. She returned to the US from there because of illness and her desire to return to her children.

Helene Weissman faced a triangular identity conflict, as she experienced the war from the perspective of the United States, France and Spain. In the United States she was a witness and bystander as she developed her understanding of the war. In Spain she was a French interpreter and a liaison in which she provided pertinent communication between medical personnel. In France she was a teacher and camp advisor for refugee children who escaped Spain because of the catastrophes and bombings.

Weissman’s Motivations to join the ALB

The Spanish Civil War sparked world-wide interest through mass media, political protests, and constant exposure. Each volunteer had an individual reason for why they decided to travel to Spain and take part in the war. Helene Weissman shared similar interests to many of the volunteers in the United States in that she wanted to end fascism. The prime motives for her involvement in the Spanish Civil War included her hatred of fascism, concern for humanity, and political awareness. However, unlike many Lincoln volunteers, Helene Weissman was born into a very affluent family within a middle-class society. Weissman had great emotional ambition and drive because of her introduction to the revolutionary struggle.

Besides her personal motives to enter Spain as a volunteer, Helene’s husband at the time, Oscar Israel Weissman had decided to join Dr. Barsky’s contingent and help as a medical physician in Spain. Oscar Weissman asked for permission so that she could join him as the Medical Director’s Administrative Assistant due to her vast experience in the field of administration and management. Helene Weissman’s personal drives and the political motivation pushed her to get involved in any way possible.

Helene Weissman was a major humanitarian. She believed that aid – both development and humanitarian – had become a crucial tool for foreign affairs, and her chief purpose was to change how people thought. Helen’s goal was to directly influence a country’s populace – despite its government. Despite her status as a women and ethnicity, Helene supported a group that she believed were oppressed and made major sacrifices to help the Republic even if it meant leaving her life in New York. Being informed through mass media and her husband’s work fueled her cognitive abilities and mobilization was put in full force.

Leaving New York bound for Spain

Assemblage for the war began after her decision had been taken. Helene Weissman was going to join the Abraham Lincoln Brigade and aid the country of Spain from the rise of fascism. On the eve of November 1937 Helene Weissman was aboard the Normandie and set sailed to Spain. After arrival in Spain she rode a car to Valencia, in the East coast of Spain, where the hospital personnel picked her up after one night.

Weissman’s Journey in Spain and France

As a volunteer in Spain, Helene Weissman was assigned by the medical bureau to aid the Spanish democracy. The first hospital position Helene Weissman served in was the Villa Paz hospital where she worked as an administrative aid to the director of the hospital. After spending several months in Spain she was assigned to go to France in order to get necessary hospital supplies. Helene Weissman traveled to Paris, France by train in order to purchase the supplies needed for the hospital. According to Helene Weissman, she “went to Paris by train and quite dangerously because of illness on my part in order to purchase supplies in Paris for the hospital” (ALBA). This quote concretely showcases the dedication, determination and diligence of Helene. Even though she was sick and literally putting her life at risk she felt as a strong humanitarian the need to travel in order to get the necessary supplies for the Spanish Republic.

As a volunteer in France, Helene Weissman headed a day refugee camp for children. Weissman being the humanitarian that she was did everything in her power to provide the best medical care and treatment for the children she helped at the camp. Though there is not a lot of information regarding her specific roles Weissman took part in it was noted that she was a camp leader for the children’s sector in France.

Besides getting medical attention for personal reasons, Helene Weissman was a liaison between the New York office of the medical bureau and Villa Paz hospital. At the request of the medical bureau Helene Weissman was permanently sent back to the United States in order to help with purchasing and reporting inventory supplies that were sent to Spain from Paris, France. Helene wanted to go back to Spain, but she needed to stay for family reasons. She remained in an active role from New York in order to aid in Spain.

Political Climate in United States Post War

The USA remained ostensibly neutral, and although horrified by the atrocities on both sides in the Spanish Civil War, offered no tangible assistance. Indeed, the war strengthened the country’s isolationist sentiment. President Roosevelt made the ‘Quarantine the Aggressors’ speech in October 1937, but his words meant little to the dictators in Europe and the military regime in Japan. The UN called for economic sanctions against Franco in 1946, and all its member states broke off diplomatic relations. In addition, Spain was excluded from the USA’s massive economic recovery package for post-war Europe, Marshall Aid. The initial plan in the West was to wait for a crisis in Spain to bring about the overthrow of Franco. Yet the Americans changed their perspective on the Spanish political situation as the Cold War developed with the USSR. Franco was clearly a strong anti-communist force and, therefore, the ‘enemy of my enemy is my friend’. This philosophy transformed into direct economic aid when the Cold War became global in 1950. In 1951, President Eisenhower agreed to the first American grant to Spain, and in return the Americans were permitted to use air bases in Spain. Spain became an ally of the USA and was permitted to join the United Nations.

After the Spanish Civil War

According to Helene Weissman’s transcript, which was found at the Lincoln brigade Archives, “I think the entire experience for me was on the advantage side. I think it was a learning thing that helped me grow in understanding what it’s all about (Page 10). Weissman hoped that her efforts in the war aided the Spanish democracy. She also stated said that she did all that she could in war efforts and set up records of various kinds in her position at the New York office where she remained a liaison for France and Spain. Although devastated about leaving Spain with time she began to accept her reason for remaining in the United States while her husband, Oscar Weissman still served in the Spanish Civil War although the decision was very hard to fathom in the beginning.

One of the most touching remarks Helene Weissman has made in her records was the following commentary, “I think all the years of my association with the medical bureau including the Spanish phase produced a willingness on my part to continue on the progressive road I’ve traveled ever since that time.” Weissman’s war efforts make her an extraordinary person because she sacrificed her family, more specifically, her children and marriage to participate in a cause she desperate felt a part of.

In 1959, after many wonderful years of marriage, as Helene Weissman described them she and her husband, Oscar Weissman divorced. The divorce was mainly due to the loss of communication between the couple while she was with her children in the United States and he was a physician in the war aiding the Spanish democracy. Weissman had two spectacular children that she was highly proud of: Andrew Weissman and Judith Beth Williams. Andrew Weissman is currently working in social work and received his PhD and Judith Beth Williams is a school teacher in Michigan working with special needs children. After her divorce, Weissman became a grandmother as both her son and daughter had their own children. After the Spanish Civil War, Helene Weissman made a “successful adjustment” and worked as a social worker for the rest of her life.

Conclusion

Helene Weissman has established an unprecedented legacy for so many to follow in regards to her participation and involvement in the Spanish Civil War. Being a former Hunter College student has made this research experience one of honor and privilege.
This paper gave me an opportunity to recover a Hunter College alumni’s experience in the Spanish Civil War. Hunter college is not usually mentioned in the historical accounts of student resistance in New because of it used to be a college only for women. Being able to speak about a prestigious institution I attend and helping uncover the pertinent history of a Spanish Civil War veteran is one of the most essential ways to narrate the experience of the war and its meaning. Helene was one of the twenty eight hundred winners of the American efforts in the Spanish Civil War because they were the brave heroes who despite the harsh reality of the conflict did what they could to help their beloved Spain in a time of need.

Helene Weissman left her children back home to support the Spanish democratically-elected government in trying to end the rise of fascism. Weissman was a humanitarian and political activist who pursued a noble cause and pursues it in any way possible. It was not enough to go to Spain and risk her life to help Spaniards but upon return due to sickness she still took an active role in aiding in war efforts. When we decipher the life of Helene Weissman it is noteworthy to understand her past and fathom the layers that existed during this period of history. Helene was destined to help people in a myriad of ways that she could even if it meant to leave her children behind without both a mother and father and to participate in war efforts.

As a mother, grandmother, humanitarian, teacher, leader, administrator, social worker and woman Helene Weissman was able to openly fight Franco’s ideologies and stand for what she believed was right. Despite the struggles, consequences, mortalities, punishments and obstacles Helene was able to stand with the Abraham Lincoln Brigade and fight to end fascism.

Works Cited
Beevor, Antony. The battle for Spain: the Spanish Civil War 1936-1939. London: Phoenix, 2007. Print.

“Spanish Civil War breaks out.” History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 08 Apr. 2017.

Weissman Helene, Undated; Francis Patai Papers; ALBA.131; Box 4; Folder 12; Tamiment Library/Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives, New York University.

Weissman, Helene, 1937-1938; Fredericka Martin Photographs; ALBA.PHOTO.001; Box: 8, Folder: 94; Tamiment Library/Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives, New York University.

Weissman Helene, 1937; Fredericka Martin Papers; ALBA.001; Box 13; Folder 33; Tamiment Library/Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives, New York University.