Commandant Fort 

The history of the Franco-Belge Battalion is the history of its Com- 
mandant, Fort, member of the French Socialist Party and veteran of 
the World War. It began when he took command of the newly-form- 
ed Battalion at the end of January 1937; it ended when at Brunete in 
July, a Fascist bullet deprived Fort of the sight of both eyes, and the 
Battalion was incorporated in another unit. 
The six months’ history of the Battalion is one of continuous front- 
line service. Only once, and then for two weeks merely, was the Bat- 
talion out of the line. At Jarama on February 12, Fort led his men into 
action on the right of the Sam Martin de la Vega road, taking up a pos- 
ition between the British and Dimitrov Battalions. Their machine-guns 
lent to another unit, the previous night, they were seriously handicap- 
ped when the Fascists attacked. Fort was in the line all day, directing 
and encouraging his men. He was wounded that night by a bullet 
which traversed both legs. His place was taken by Huet, and then by 
Blin who were wounded in quick succession. A fourth Commander, 
twenty—three year old Emile Schneiberg was killed in action on Febru- 
ary 21. The losses among the rank and file were proportionately large. 
Fort, convalescent, came back to reorganise and lead the Battalion. 
Fort was born of working-class parents, and is self-educated. Dur- 
ing the World War he was a Lieutenant in the Alpine Light Infantry 
of the French Army, and was twice wounded in action. He was pro- 
minent in the French Socialist Party in the Rhone district. When the 
war broke out in Spain he was quick to realise the issues at stake. He 
came to Spain, considering it the duty of the international working- 
class, irrespective of its party distinctions or differences, to unite to 
crush at its beginning the menace of International Fascism. 
During the Brunete campaign, Fort was always in the line with his 
men, sharing their dangers, heartening them in attack, steeling them in 
defence. The Battalion was under strength at the beginning of the 
campaign; after three weeks fighting it was reduced to little more than 
a Company. In the last days of the Fascist counter-offensive, a bullet 
penetrated Commandant Fort’s right eye. Rushed to hospital, he was 
operated on, and for a while there were hopes that he would recover 
the sight of one eye. But the nerve had been destroyed and the courag- 
eous leader of the Franco-Belge Battalion is permanently blind. 
C. F. 

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