Yr Aflonyddwch Mawr says remembering Welsh Anti Fascists is more important than ever especially with the rise of the new Syncretic Fascism in Wales of Ein Gwlad - the principal ideology of Post 1945 Fascism - has found a Welsh niche.
It is our duty to expose it at every opportunity while remembering those that gave their lives in Wales fighting Fascism and Nazism in the past.
Remembering a Welshman who challenged Franco and the fascists
It is 80 years this year since the end of the most bloody civil war of continental Europe in the twentieth century.
Between 1936 and 1939, Spain was split between the republicans and the left wing, and the right-wing nationalists, with Francisco Franco, who went on to become the dictator of Spain, among them.
Although the battle was in Spain, it was seen as an international war by many, with volunteers from Italy, Germany and Portugal (the Fascist side) and the USSR, Mexico and France (Republicans) taking part. in the battle.
Among those who traveled there to fight were young men from Wales. One of them was Tom Jones from Rhosllannerchrugog near Wrexham, who was known as 'Twm Sbaen'.
On Saturday, 6 April a special festival will be held in Wrexham to recognize Twm Sbaen's contribution to the fight against fascism.
Marc Jones is one of the festival's organizers: "This is an opportunity to remember Twm Sbaen's contribution to the whole thing, and what it stimulates.
"He was a miner, and also secretary of the Rhos Peace Council. He was a man who believed for peace so much that he went out to fight for him."
The Gresford colliery disaster near Wrexham in 1934 probably affected Twm. Seeing the bodies came to light after the accident was a major influence on his political beliefs.
Two years later he joined tens of other Welshmen in the International Brigade.
"The Spanish Civil War was a prelude, or a starting point for the Second World War," said Marc. "We often remember the Second World War, but we don't remember what happened before. There was an opportunity to stop the World War in Spain, but that didn't happen, despite the efforts of people like Twm Spain. "
Picture above Tom Jones
Leaving Wales for Spain
"Twm told his parents that he was going to Colwyn Bay for the weekend, where he was really traveling to Barcelona. It wasn't so easy in those days either, to travel to Spain!
"I'm sure there was a bit of an adventure, but it was an important adventure, and there was something very serious behind it."
Twm traveled to Spain through France to fight for the International Brigade.
After a long period of fighting Tom was in the bloody battle of the Ebro in 1938, and was the only survivor of his battalion. He suffered injuries while fighting, and was imprisoned by the Fascists.
He was first imprisoned in Zaragoza, and then in Burgos in northern Spain, the city where Generalissimo Francisco Franco and the Fascists had made it their own headquarters.
"He was injured by bullets in five places on his body," explains Marc. "He was sentenced to death twice, and his parents received a death certificate stating that he had killed him, but the sentence was suspended on both occasions."
Twm was released in 1940 after the British Government paid £ 2m for his release.
"It is said," said Marc, "the £ 2m was paid not to Franco, but in soap. By 1940 things were quite rare, but obviously Britain had a spare soap."
Return to Wales
Twm was a communist when he was young but he continued to be very active with the trade unions and workers' rights later in life.
In 1953 he became a full-time officer with the Transport and General Workers' Union (TGWU), and was secretary of the union in Wales until his retirement in 1973. He died in Wrexham in 1990.
"I didn't meet him personally," says Marc Jones, "but I've spoken to his family a lot. The family comes to the festival and are very supportive. a grandson speaks Welsh and lives in the Hawarden area, one of Twm's grandchildren now lives in Spain. "
Hopes for the Festival
"As this is the first one and we have been working for him over the last few months, there will be a lot going out for the procession around the town. In the afternoon we will be at Tŷ Pawb, the Wrexham arts center where we will have the opportunity to listen to the talks and discussions we have organized.
"A Catalan speaker will also come to discuss the modern fascism of the Spanish State, and many other contributors will discuss fascism that exists throughout the world today."
Tom Jones - Spain
REMEMBER TO FIGHT THE FASCISM AT HOME AS WELL AS ABROAD
https://democracyandclasstruggle.blogspot.com/2012/06/colliers-crusade-welsh-miners-and.html
FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO UNDERSTAND THE NEW FASCIST THREAT
STUDY:
http://democracyandclasstruggle.blogspot.com/2019/03/the-browning-of-left-how-fascists.html
https://democracyandclasstruggle.blogspot.com/2017/03/dugins-occult-fascism-and-hijacking-of.html
https://democracyandclasstruggle.blogspot.com/2014/04/aleksandr-dugin-radical-conservatism.html
https://greatunrest2012.blogspot.com/2018/09/welsh-proto-fascism-has-face-third.html
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