Rakosi Battalion

The Rakosi Battalion was a volunteer unit, formed predominantly of Hungarians, who fought in the XIII International Brigade during the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939). The battalion was named after Mátyás Rákosi, then a political prisoner in Horthy's Hungary, later Communist dictator of Hungary.

Prominent veterans

• László Rajk (political commissar) became Hungarian foreign secretary, was accused of espionage, and shot after a show trial in Hungary in 1949. ^[1]
• Ferenc Münnich (political commissar) became Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Hungary from 1958 to 1961. ^[2]

Footnotes and references

• Beevor, Antony; The Battle for Spain, 2006.
• Copeman, Fred; Reason in Revolt, 1948
• Eby, Cecil; Comrades and Commissars, 2007.
• Gurney, Jason; Crusade in Spain, 1974
• Thomas, Hugh; The Spanish Civil War, 4th Rev. Ed. 2001.