Spain / the Spanish revolution and communes of Aragon Vadim Dame
Date: 17 January 2009
In 1936-1937 in Spain there was a social revolution, not knowing to itself equal. In much bigger degree, than all preceding and subsequent national explosions it has come nearer to realisation of century dream of mankind about freedom, equality and solidarity.
Unlike many countries where the proletariat has got to submission Marxist and leninistskim to consignments, among the Spanish workers the anarcho-syndicalism prevailed. Anarchist trade-union confederation NKT (National confederation of work, CNT) united by the moment of revolution of 1,6 million proletarians and peasants (including over 300 thousand members FAI). They traditionally aspired not to government grab, and to complete destruction of the state and the capital, to creation of new company on the basis of anarchist communism. For comparison: in socialist trade union VST (UGT) was about 1,4 million members, in Communist Party - 33 thousand (1).
The Spanish anarchism leant on strong communal (kommunitarnye) traditions. Here that German researcher J.Helvege wrote about it: " Munitsipija, Spanish pueblo as almost avtarkicheskaja, independent public unit in which there could be naturally institutes and self-management mechanisms, was a reality until with growth bjurokratizatsija the world in this idyll the state in all its omnipotence and with all its servants has not interfered and has not started it to destroy. The organizational talent and propensity of the Spanish population to self-management were shown in the exact, in details developed rules on which disputes were regulated, posts in brotherhoods attended, teamwork pueblo on clearing was carried out, to processing and protection of plots of a common land between members of a community on general meetings the received crop, at last, was distributed. In these collective psychological moods and in experience, which places... Could depart for a long time already in the past, it is necessary to search for roots of hiliastichesko-anarchist movements "(2).
In cities and rural districts of Spain there was an ancient tradition of liberties. Medieval cities of Iberijsky kingdoms had the rights of self-management and even created federations (brotherhood) for struggle against feudal lords. But after revolt suppression "kommuneros" in XVI century this autonomy has been broken. In village the community was kept long and for a full due. Here it too had experience of struggle against despotism. It is enough to recollect, for example, well-known play Lope de Vega "Fuente Ovehuna": the risen peasants are straightened with the torturer - the seigneur, and then is proud go on royal court and on a question "who has made it", declare: all community, all Fuente Ovehuna.
The anarchism in rural Spain has got on a fertile field. Probably, these traditions that almost religious passion from which peasants of Aragon will create the collectives in 1936 German anarchist Augustin Zuhi speaks described that he has seen in aragonskom settlement Munesa (1700 inhabitants). The anarchist who has studied of many years in Barcelona has returned To village. It at once have selected alkaldom (mayor). "It executed the functions in a hall of communal advice. On a table the Spanish edition of book Kropotkina" Bread and will "laid. In the evenings members of collective were going to also somebody read the book aloud. It was the new gospel. There it has been in black and white written, that it is necessary to do to achieve well-being for all". It is not necessary to be surprised, that inhabitants of settlement with delight have apprehended the offer of the fellow countryman who has come back from Barcelona to proclaim libertarnyj communism.
However, and the psychology of working class of then Spain hardly differed from moods in modern "mass" company where people live as the atoms isolated from each other which does not have anything general with the neighbours and the environment. Mjurrej Bukchin fairly noticed, that proletarian socialism of those years "has influenced... Originating in village and a small city significant proletarizatsija peasants who forced to keep villages and an agricultural crop. That they have brought (in a city, - a bus comment) With its natural rhythms and values, key significance for an explanation of character of their discontent and eagerness to fight has this pre-capitalistic culture... The First class workers - anarchists of Barcelona, which... Burnt money in feverish days of July lifting of 1936, operated under the influence deeply utopian and ethical impulses, instead of it is simple proceeding from economic interests... The Proletariat of end ХIХ - the XX-th century beginnings was special social breed. It was... It is natural in vital naturalness of the behaviour, it is angered by loss of the autonomy and saved in the values the destroyed world of craft, love to the earth and communal solidarity "(4). This effect of capitalism decomposing human solidarity and industrializma many anarchists well understood. Not without reason the Argentina anarchist working organisation ODDS urged to stop expansion of industrial capitalism, for the present not late.
But it would be wrong to think, that the anarchism extended across Spain by itself. Popularity libertarnyh ideas was, of course, and result of self-denying multiten years' job of the Spanish anarchists. They created not only the unions of urban workers, but also the unions of agricultural workers, operated among peasants. The big role anarchists-teachers here have played. They departed to the most deaf and thrown areas of the country, learnt people to the reading and writing and connected training with propagation of anarchism (5). For many simple people of Spain, thus, literacy, knowledge has for ever appeared connected with anarchism.
In the Spanish anarcho-syndicalism, as well as at anarchists of other countries, long time was not the uniform, conventional submissions about the social purpose, about future company. People understood without delay, that they do not want, rather than understood, that should achieve. As the life of workers was enough heavy, time and forces for teoretizirovanija was a little. Officially the anarcho-syndicalism in Spain long followed early collectivist ideas bakuninskogo a wing of the First Internatsionala, then observed a certain pluralism. And only in 1919 Spanish NKT has officially proclaimed as the purpose libertarnyj communism (6). But even after that the ideological and practical ambiguity was saved, despite attempts of many anarchists to overcome it.
Experience went here ahead of the theory. In 1932-1933 across all Spain anarchist revolts have swept. Risen seized small towns and villages and proclaimed libertarnyj communism. Agrarian Andalusia where peasants conducted desperate struggle against landowners-latifundistami, and also Aragon and Catalonia became movement epicentre. What is it meant in practice? The Spanish anarho-syndicalist Zhoze Pejrats tells about it in the book: settlements appeared free munitsipijami (communes), "for revolutionaries all was developed with a velocity of light: to lift a black-red banner over the mayoralty, to proclaim libertarnyj communism, to burn on the area the archives documentary establishing the property right and publicly to declare cancellation of money and operation of the person by the person". Usually "libertarnyj the communism was proclaimed without any difficulties and victims. The world, pleasure and harmony similar to paradise reigned up to arrival of armies" (7). After that movement krovavo choked. Time for development of experience in active workers was not.
Nevertheless, the general direction of actions was not subject to doubt. It has been outlined in the leaflets extended by National revolutionary committee before general revolt planned for December, 1933: "workers were urged to take factories, mines and workshops and to establish the control over production. On industrial objects works committees which should incorporate at local level in working Advices should be created. The population of rural districts should form the free communes uniting in the order of districts. Large warehouses of the foodstuffs were subject ekspropriatsii, a foodstuff should be distributed through co-operative societies. The armed working militia should be created..." (i).
In 30th years in Spanish NKT there were two ideological currents: kommunitaristskoe and industrialistsko-syndicalist (ii). It was as though continuation of old disputes between anarho-communists and revolutionary syndicalists of a turn of the century. It was a question what to do after revolution - victorious general strike and revolt. Kommunitaristy, following anarho-communistic tradition, considered, that the free commune ("free munitsipija"), as much as possible independent and self-supplied should become a basis of the future company. Accordingly they underestimated problems of economic ties and economic interaction between such communes, believing, that those simply can give one another surpluses. Industrialisty tended to the in a revolutionary way-syndicalist scheme on which after revolution the centralised factory economic structures and economy forms of organisation will be saved and will pass from private or state hands under management assotsiirovannyh syndicates (trade unions). They paid the big attention to problems of job of economy as uniform complex and developed principles libertarnogo planning. Both those, and at others had strong and weaknesses. Disputes went sharp, jobs and articles with arguments were estimated in tens. As the most known theorists kommunitaristov the writer and publicist Federiko Urales (the father of known anarchist Federiki Montseni and the editor of the theoretical and art journal "Revista the form") and doctor Isaak Puente have acted. Urales has connected argument Kropotkina to tradition of the Spanish rural communes, including their the most suitable base for realisation of collectivist principles of solidarity. He asserted, that revolution will burst after a phase of crisis of capitalism and will lead to revival kommunitarnyh traditions in free villages. These ideas have been popularised by the doctor and publicist Isaakom Puente, one of leaders of insurgent movement of 1932 and a member of National revolutionary committee NKT of 1933 It has written the book "Libertarnyj communism - purpose NKT". In it the plan of creation of system libertarnogo communism to Spain and arguments in favour of its possibility contained. As well as Urales, Puente followed for Kropotkinym in interpretation of social bents of the person. It rejected idea revolutionary or poslerevoljutsionnoj elite and a transition period. Kommunitarnoe he considered movement to responding social instincts of the person. Puente started with possibility of that Spain the first will establish at itself libertarnyj communism and can resist to the capitalist world. In its opinion, kommunitarnoe the agriculture will easily feed the country. And though Puente recognised, that in cities of function of a commune can play local federations of industrial syndicates, he underlined voluntariness and social and economic avtarkiju communes. It with mistrust concerned "architects of the new world", to economic planning and industrial development (iii). The book had huge popularity in anarchist circles, was republished and discussed.
As one of the basic theorists industrialistov has acted Diego Abad de Santiljan. It began the anarchical job in Argentina and there followed anarho-communistic and nepredreshencheskim to items ODDS. In Spain it has changed the sights, for what the Latin American anarchists with contempt named subsequently its clown-acrobat (iv). Its book "Economic organism of revolution" praises the modern industry and speaks about necessity of planning and economic coordination. It criticises Kropotkina for economic lokalizm and declares free communes an anachronism, a reactionary Utopia. Abad de Santiljan gave the big role free eksperimentirovaniju, keeping a place to various forms of the future company. But basically that he offered it is faster rigid structure of the syndicalist organisation of all company (v). It is interesting, that both at it, and at others industrialistov (like Dutch Kornelissena or Frenchman Benara), libertarnyj the communism was understood without delay as transitive company on a way to anarchy - as what for marksistov "proletariat dictatorship" serves.
Divergences between anarchists and revolutionary syndicalists were accompanied by tactical disagreements and led to splits. Only in May, 1936 in Zaragosa congress NKT on which the Concept libetrarnogo komunizma "has been accepted program" has been called. It synthesised ideas and positions of both currents, but nevertheless leant without delay against project Puente. Libertarnyj komunizm (from each on abilities, each on requirements within the limits of economic possibility) it should be established without transition periods right after a victorious social revolution. At the heart of the future free company the double organisation - territorial (free communes and their federations) and branch (syndicates) should lay. The program supported the decentralised planning from below on the basis of statistical definition of requirements and production potentialities. Money was subject to cancellation and replacement with a card of the manufacturer and the consumer. The state and standing army were abolished and replaced with federation of communes and working militia (vi).
As we see, the program has been quite developed. But she has not had time to get into minds and moods of people as something whole, and not just as a set of separate trues. And it was received, that when in Spain revolution - which has suddenly begun so long waited - anarchists have appeared to it both are ready, and are not ready. "When revolution has burst, - the researcher of anarchism Jacob Oved wrote, - in radical and anarchist circles there were hopes that the long-awaited revolutionary situation, at last, has come and will be soon carried out libertarnyj communism. But events of the first weeks of a civil war have shown, how much management NKT was nepodgotovleno and development of the local initiative advances the central instructions". However, he adds, it became soon obvious, that the establishment libertarnogo kommunitarizma on the country and in a sufficient measure has not been prepared (vii).
On July, 17th, 1936 in the country military-fascist mutiny has flashed. In the answer workers left on streets, have armed and have built barricades. They have entered fight with rebels. In a current of 3 days putsch has been suppressed on bolshej parts of territory of Spain.
After fights anarchists became actually owners of Barcelona. Streets were patrolled by the armed working home guards. Created NKT, FAI and "Libertarnoj youth" revolt bodies - "protection committees" in urban quarters have turned to revolutionary committees and have united in "federation of barricades". Each barricade has been presented in revolutionary committee by the delegate. The new organisations supervised all public life of a city, have organised victualling etc., sent delegates to villages to strengthen the revolutionary committees which have arisen there. The new social organism has started to be formed. At the initiative of committees workers have taken pawnshops and have distributed requiring clothes, mattresses, sewing-machines... There were some cases when workers and working women seized banks and burnt money - a symbol of the hated old world of oppression (viii).
At this moment anarchists had been admitted the first fatal flaw. It consisted, of course, not that they have not seized power as them of it accuse trotskisty, and that they have not dethroned it. Regional committee NKT of Catalonia long discussed what to do in the formed situation. The head of the regional government L.Kompanis has called the secretary Catalan NKT Mariano Vaskesu and has offered negotiations. In the beginning that spoke with the prime minister in rather ironical tones. Member FAI Garsija Oliver (in the future the minister and the founder of "anarho-party" but then still left) has suggested to proclaim immediately libertarnyj communism. But this offer was not accepted. Abad de Santiljan has supported the union with other antifascist forces. The intermediate position was reduced to that, not entering in power structures, to put upon them pressure for realisation of socialisation of the industry and agriculture while the government deprived of any power, will not fall. On July, 21st plenum Catalan NKT was going to. Durutti and Garsija Oliver suggested "to go up to the end", not being afraid of charges in "anarchist dictatorship". But the asset has decided differently. Not having reliance of success of other regions, delegates have considered, that "any libertarnogo the communism is not present", that is as a matter of fact, revolution does not occur, it is necessary to strengthen antifascist unity (ix). It was the initial error which has predetermined others, the subsequent. Events began to develop on own logic. Anarchists were included into the semigovernmental body generated on the coalition beginnings - Committee of antifascist militias. In some months behind it is despite resistance of radical part NKT, FAI and "Libertarnoj youth" - introduction NKT in Catalan and obshcheispanskoe the government has followed. The majority of "leaders" NKT has offered an immediate social revolution for the sake of - as was very soon found out - illusive antifascist unity.
But the ordinary active workers of anarchist movement inspired by those feelings and ideas about whom I spoke in the beginning, did not begin to wait for instructions of "leaders". According to French anarchists Prjudommo, "in basis" movements were guided by the arguments: "Presence of members NKT and FAI in governmental bodies is only the compromise imposed by circumstances, time deviation in revolution. Revolution has only one instrument are the weights organised in the order of a commune and the enterprise" (x). "Often happened so, - confirms G.Leval, - that delegates from a province, from small cities and the villages, overflowed with talkativeness of our infinite talkers, approved sharing in the government as felt shaken by position which has been described by it in the most dark paints... But as soon as they came back in the cities and villages, they continued to build new company. They did not consider themselves as the connected political manoeuvres..." (XI)
Workers-anarchists have begun a social revolution, having proved to that vitality of anarchist ideas. And in the actions they - it is conscious or not - were guided by ideas libertarnogo communism. But neskoordinirovannost and complete spontaneity of social transformations has very soon brought huge difficulties and stirred to their success.
Leninistsky critics of the Spanish anarchism (for example, trotskisty) assert, that antietatistskie, antivlastnicheskie traditions of the Spanish anarchism have predetermined its weakness and confusion in a question on the power. On their logician, having refused to take the power, they inevitably should pass its bourgeoisies. The validity looked absolutely differently. Error NKT was not that it has not taken the power, and that it has not destroyed it, has not proclaimed libertarnyj communism as it was provided by the Saragossky program. But even in this situation the anarchism has shown force of the principles and the advantages before leninistskimi concepts. Rank-and-file members NKT have started revolution fulfilment, not waiting decisions of committees and Confederation plenums, irrespective of them and their political concessions and fluctuations. Such it was possible only in the anarchist organisation. Hardly it was myslimo at leninistskih organizational structures with their rigid discipline and demtsentralizmom!
Proletarians were not going to to return the power to republican capitalists who have shown complete inability to struggle with fascism. Trade unions have seized the majority of factories and factories, first of all in industrial area of Catalonia. Many enterprises have been taken away from owners and have passed under management of anarchist and socialist trade-union committees. According to some information, so happens from 70 % of the enterprises of Barcelona and 50 % in Valencia (xii). (From 24 million inhabitants of Spain in the industry have been taken about a quarter, in agriculture - there is more than half (xiii)).
But soon workers have appeared before a new problem. Anarchist terminology of those years spent distinction between "collectivisation" and "socialisation". The first was understood as enterprise grab by labour collective and its transition under management of trade unions. Under the second - nationalisation in company scales, with adjustment of new economic ties on not market and not to a bureaucratic basis. In theory the first was considered as the first step to the second. The trouble was, however, that this transition and has not taken place as commodity-money relations as a whole have not been liquidated, and money was saved at the state and capitalists. According to Gaston Levalja, the author of the perfect and detailed book about the Spanish revolution, "it is very frequent workers in Barcelona and Valencia, having taken possession of factory, masterful, cars and raw materials, organised production by own strength and sold a product of the work for the sake of a personal advantage, and used for this purpose preservation of a monetary system and characteristic trade relations for capitalism. The decree of 1936 which has legalised collectivisation, has not allowed them to go further and by that, marks have been from the very beginning placed incorrectly. It was, t.o., not the present socialisation, and working neocapitalism, some kind of the self-management fluctuating between capitalism and socialism that would not occur is it is necessary to underline - if revolution could be completely carried out under the guidance of our trade unions" (xiv). Even Abad de Santiljan, the post of the Minister of Economics holding at this time in the Catalan government, recognised in the end of 1936: " We have reached much, but have made it badly. Instead of old holders we have delivered half-dozen proprietors who consider the enterprises, means of transport and the control over them as the property, with that minus, that they not always know how to organise management... No, we yet have not made revolution in Catalonia. There is no necessity to create in Spain a new kind of proprietors, it is necessary to socialise a private property essential to capitalism, on the contrary, "." We have not organised that economic device which planned. We were content with that have expelled holders from factories and have incurred a role of control committees. We have not undertaken any attempts to make contact among themselves or actually to co-ordinate an economy. We worked without any plan, not knowing actually, that we create "(xv). The Production efficiency in syndicalist sector evaluate on a miscellaneous. But it also was various. According to G.Jackson," where the raw materials were accessible, where workers were proud and skilful in service of the cars where the reasonable part of staff sympathised with revolution, the factory worked successfully. Where raw materials was a little where could not find spare parts where rivalry NKT and VST (socialist trade union) divided workers and where political ends were put above job, there the collective enterprises suffered failures ". This economic model differed from capitalist or state-socialist economy and in concrete economic displays, for example - in reaction to crisis conditions. So, crisis of sales because of loss of markets (half of Spain and a part of foreign countries) led not to unemployment growth, and to reduction of the working day. Investment went, first of all, not in industrial, and to cultural projects. Maintenance with syndicates of reduction of prices on tickets in culture establishments has led to mass inflow of spectators. Thanks to revolution many workers and peasants could visit for the first time theatre and cinema. The quantity of children trained at schools of Barcelona, has increased since July 1936г. Till July 1937г. With 30 to 100 thousand persons.
Progress in position of workers was available. The salary has been essentially increased, rupture between highly paid and nizkooplachivaemymi was hardly reduced. People could work for the first time without owners and bosses, to organise the work. In a number of places and branches sindikalizatsija has stepped over level of the separate enterprises and has extended on the whole branches, started to work it is co-ordinated as one enterprise (so-called "groups") (for example, all branches in Alkoe, supply by gas, water and an electricity in Catalonia, trams in Barcelona, places - transport and public health services) (xvi). " The management "NKT has published the list of the"inviolable"enterprises of foreigners, being afraid of interference of the British squadron, but ordinary active workers far not always observed it. At the enterprises which for the various reasons have not been confiscated, the working control was entered. The question on the salary too has fallen a victim of military-political circumstances. So in Valencia after several attempts to cancel money and salary system payment" (xvii) has prevailed so-called "posemejnaja.
Subsequently attempts of coordination of economic activities have been undertaken. But they as correctly noticed Daniel Geren, already combined both libertarnye, and gosudarstvennicheskie tendencies. In October, 1936 the Catalan government has published the decree about collectivisation large and partially the average enterprises, than actually not simply legalised come true fact, but even limited its scales. The self-coping enterprises coped uniformly - steering committee from 5-6 persons which was selected general meeting for 2 years with re-election of half of members every year. The committee nominated the director to whom passed a part of the authorities. The governmental controller has been attached to each committee. Committees were under control gensovetu to branch which consisted of representatives of committees, syndicates and operating personnel. This advice should plan work and define the salary. Each worker received a stated salary. NKT tried to organise cooperation and the general planning, in turn. Have been with that end in view created 8 gensovetov for various branches, trade and the finance. For equal distribution of resources there was "a levelling cash desk". In December, 1936 in Valencia trade unions have decided to start the organisation of a general plan in order to avoid an unnecessary competitiveness (xviii).
At the collectivised enterprises of Catalonia economic decisions were saved behind labour collective. In his hands there was also a profit large part (after creation of "an industrial and trading credit fund" - 50 %). On private enterprises with the working control besides the holder or the director the works committee operated, there was also a government spokesman supplying communication with gensovetom of branch. The labour collective could dispose 30 % of profits. As a whole, according to Walter Bernekera, "after July, 19th, 1936 there was" co-ordinated "trade unions and" directed "the state an economic system which during all war worked dynamically and up to the end saved dual structure in which co-existed nearby kapitalistichesko-chastnoekonomicheskie and kollektivistski-socialist producing units" (xix).
Thus, in cities the authorities rather easily managed to take natural national movement under the control. Since August, 1936 under the influence communists have begun nationalisation under the pretext military necessity and job for front. First of all it extended on the collectivised enterprises. This process has accepted especially wide scales after the government has disposed to suspend in August, 1937 the Catalan decree about socialisation in the metallurgical and mining industry and war industry militarization in August, 1938 (xx)
Much further the social revolution in the Spanish village has come. There right after on July, 19th, 1936 mass process of overthrow of local authorities was developed. All inhabitants of settlement were going to on general meeting on the area or in a building of communal advice and selected revolutionary committee. In Aragon, and soon and in Levant struggle against fascism was perceived as a part of struggle against capitalist usages and an inequality. Peasants selected the earth at landowners, not waiting orders in council. Local revolutionary committees and country trade unions collected general meetings. On them decisions on creation of co-operative societies which have received the name "collectives" were made. Thus members of "collectives" voluntary united the earth and seized at landowners, and is frequent even the money resources. Each family saved a small kitchen garden only for own needs. The rights of those who wished to continue to process the earth individually, were usually observed, if they were obliged to do it only own forces, without wage labour application. It was difficult to exclude possibility of moral pressure upon "individuals" from fellows villager, but cases of direct physical compulsion at Spanish "collectivisation" practically were not. Often "collectives" united all inhabitants of village or overwhelming majority. In many collectives payment was entered posemejnaja. Money resources of rich men were expropriated by committees and were located in banks. In some places have manufactured own money or coupons. Committees took over the control distribution, the prices were established collectively and supervised. Trade as that in many places in general has disappeared. Collective warehouses and shops which were located often in the former churches (xxi) have been organised.
But also in village social transformations went neskoordinirovano, on a miscellaneous. Partially it has been connected with features of structure of the landed property. If in Aragon of the processed earth of 80 % belonged to landowners in Levant and Catalonia the small landed property prevailed. And though among these small proprietors there were many anarchists who too began to create collectives, in Levant and Catalonia on this way was more difficulties. Here the earths of landowners were expropriated only. But the shortage of products called by begun war here again has induced communal advices to take measures on restriction of a role of private trade and socialisation development. It was followed by a stage of creation of complete collectives, though and in a smaller measure supported by the majority of local population. Some of them were rather large and prospering, but in the majority of them monetary relations were saved. In total in Aragon has arisen nearby 400 - 450 agricultural collectives, in Levant - 900, in Castile - 300, in Catalonia - 40, in Estremadure 30 (xxii).
Revolution in northern region Aragon which was considered as "a revolution beacon" (xxiii) has most far come. Here, in territory where anarchist national home guards under command of the legendary revolutionary of Buenaventura Durruti conducted heavy fights with fascist armies, decisive steps on a way to anarchist communism though officially it and has not been proclaimed have been made.
In aragonskih collectives lived 500 thousand persons - the large part of the population of region; in their order there were 60 % of the processed earths (xxiv). Concerning the "individuals" who are not entering into collectives, the congress in February, 1937 has made the following decision: as the small proprietors, wishing to remain out of collective, consider itself capable to work alone, they should not enjoy advantages of collective (until then happened, that allowed them on certain conditions to use the collective blessings and services). However their right to conduct an economy in own way should be observed, if they do not interfere with collective activity. Thus each of them should have so much earth, how much it can process independently. Application of hired force is more strict it is forbidden.
Aragonsky villages is not purely agricultural settlements. We would name them without delay small towns. Stone houses, inhabitants which attend not only etc. These enterprises, and also consumer services, culture establishments and educations too were socialised by earth processing, but also craft, the local industry. In settlements ancient communal traditions were strong. All it facilitated association of people in free territorial and economic communities as it and was provided in anarho-communism.
In "collectives" there was no hierarchy, all used equal rights. Regular general meeting of members which was going to once a month was main decisive body always. For current coordination of a municipal and economic life the committees often arising on the basis of former revolutionary committees were selected. Their members - basically, delegates from branch sections - did not use any privileges and did not get special compensation for the job. All of them, except technical secretaries and treasurers should continue usual labour activity. Each adult member of "collective" (except pregnant women) worked. Work has been organised on self-management bases. The teams consisting of 5-10 persons solved all basic working questions on ezhevechernih meetings. Delegates selected on them executed also functions of coordination and an exchange of the information with other teams. In many collectives "the principle of change of work was applied, workers moved from one branch to other as required. Industrial enterprises have been switched on in economic system of a community that promoted industry and agriculture reunion. Collectives united in district federations (xxv).
Liquidation of money became the major measure. Thus aragontsy were guided by not any financial theory, and the ethical and revolutionary feelings. In the first weeks in many "collectives" in general have cancelled compensation for work and have entered unlimited free consumption of all products from public warehouses. But in the conditions of war and deficiencies it was hard business as out of "collectives" monetary circulation was saved. In September, 1936 the majority of communities has passed on so-called "family payment". Each a family in "collective" received an equal amount of money (depending on "collective" approximately on 7-10 pesetas on the head of the family, 50 more % - on his wife and more on 15 % - on each other member of the family) (xxvi). These means intended only for purchase of a foodstuff and consumer goods and should not be accumulated. In many communities instead of nation-wide money local coupons have been entered. In the third there were cards and coupons. Certain kinds of products ratsionirovalis almost everywhere (there was a war), but some (wine, butter, etc.) in many places were issued without any restrictions (xxvii). To the decision on cancellation of money "in third from all 510 villages and the cities which have accepted collectivisation in Aragon, money has been cancelled also the goods was granted free of charge from collective shop under the consumer book", "in two thirds corresponding money substitutes - checks, coupons, coins etc. which were valid only in the communities which have manufactured them" (xxviii) have been accepted.
First time in activity of separate communities was shown certain regionalism, the starting inequality of "collectives" affected also - one of them were zazhitochnee, others are poorer. As confirmed A.Zuhi, in the beginning some opposed ideas of economic planning under the self-maintenance slogan (xxix). Complete independence of "collectives" from each other, distinctions in well-being of communities and in a distribution system hindered coordination of their economic activities. Anarchists called for coordination of actions - supporters of deepening of a social revolution, including Durruti which personally agitated "collectivists" (xxx). In February, 1937 in place Kaspe the congress of "collectives" of Aragon including several hundreds delegates has taken place. The historical decision on Federation creation was accepted. Participants have agreed to strengthen propaganda in favour of "collectivisation", to create experimental farms and technical schools, to organise mutual aid between "collectives" with granting one another cars and hands. Borders between settlements have been cancelled and municipal frameworks of the property are abolished. United "collectives" have decided to co-ordinate an exchange with an external world, having created for this purpose the general fund from production intended on an exchange, instead of for own consumption of communities, and also having started to make statistics of production potentialities. At last, complete cancellation of any forms of monetary circulation in "collectives" both their Federation and introduction uniform for all the consumer book (after its presentation consumer goods were issued free of charge on norm) was provided. The last should help to establish real requirements of each of inhabitants of region that then, having focused production on concrete needs of people, to pass to anarho-communistic practice "planning from below". At last, the decision of political character was accepted also. The central government all time tried to take rebellious Aragon under the control. It has insisted on inclusion in Advice of defence of Aragon - the body consisting in the beginning entirely from anarchists - members of other consignments. In January, 1937 it has disposed to restore municipal councils in region. In the answer the congress in Kaspe has decided, that they should not interfere with economic activities of collectives (xxxi).
Activity aragonskih "collectives" has appeared extremely successful. Even on official data, the crop in region in 1937 has increased on 20 % while in many other things areas of the country it was reduced (xxxii). In Aragon roads, schools, hospitals, farms, culture establishments - in many settlements were under construction for the first time; work mechanisation was carried out. Many inhabitants have got for the first time access to health services and free, antiauthoritative education (doctors and teachers became full members of "collectives").
Many collectives did not pay taxes to the authorities. They preferred to help directly front voluntary. And it too called anger of ruling circles.
The way of Aragon to anarho-communism has been interrupted by the Spanish bourgeoisie in the union with stalinistskoj "Communist Party" which has taken proprietary classes under the protection. Already the government decree in December, 1936 has legalised only a small part of grabs of the earth and has disposed to return the rest. Sharply objected to a socialist revolution in Spain IKP; she asserted, that in the country it is necessary to carry out only bourgeois-democratic transformations within the limits of uniform antifascist front and opposed socially-revolutionary measures of anarchists, against socialisation of the industry and creation of rural communes. In stalinistskuju the consignment was tumbled down by small proprietors, businessmen, prosperous peasants-individuals, dealers, officers and officers (xxxiii). In May, 1937 " Communists ", turned to the basic counterrevolutionary consignment in a republican zone, have provoked bloody fights in Barcelona. The police under command of"communists"has attacked workers-anarchists. During fights proletarians almost managed to crush forces burzhuazno-stalinistskoj coalitions, but here leading active workers NKT have again shown indecision, having gone on the agreement with the government. The victory has been stolen. The governmental armies which have entered capital of Catalonia, have developed terror against anarchists and other left. Then the turn of Aragon has come. In August, 1937 the republican government has dispersed Advice of defence of Aragon, headed by anarchists. The tank battalion of"communistic"general Listera has been removed from front and iron caterpillars has walked on aragonskim to communes. Third of"collectives"has been dismissed, the others so never and have not recovered from defeat. Hundreds active workers have been seized, many are executed and sent. The central government has presented all Spanish collectives the ultimatum - to be legalised till October, 31st under the threat of dissolution. Over the remained the rigid state control (xxxiv) has been entered. In political sphere and in the field of the industry committees NKT also were ready to do anything new and new concessions, agreeing on militarization (creation of regular army), the introduction into "Popular front", wide measures of the state control etc. In exchange for legalisation of a part of the "collective" enterprises and economy and on reception of the weapon by the parts supervised by anarchists. In movement resistance against concessions (so-called "obstojatelstvovshchiny") grew - in opposition have passed some local groups of anarchists (for example, in Lobregate), association "Friends Durruti", Catalan federation libertarnoj youth (uniting to 40 % of members "Libertarnoj youth" Spain) (xxxv). But they already a little that could make. To the beginning of 1938 It became clear to revolutionary anarchists, that revolution is lost. First of all, the revolutionary enthusiasm of weights, feeling have been lost, that they not simply are at war as soldiers against other army, namely battle for the new world, for freedom. In a life, in a daily life, in moods of people old regimes and customs (it has very well shown Oruell in the "the Catalan diary") came back. About what the Italian anarchist Kamillo Berneri killed stalinistami in 1937 in Barcelona warned has come true: if war is not conducted as revolutionary, it will be inevitably lost (xxxvi). Lifting was replaced by weariness and indifference.
In March, 1938 frankistskie armies have rushed into the exsanguinated and the weakened Aragon and have completed counterrevolution business. A year later the end and all Spanish Republic has come.
The Spanish revolution has lost. But it was lost with honour, in struggle, peahens under the impact of superior forces of the old world. Shamefully not to suffer defeat, and to betray the purposes and ideals, having replaced hardly won freedom on new slavery, maybe, still the worst, than what has been overthrown.
