Translator’s Note: Contrary to the dreams of the far-right – it would appear that the term “Fifth Column” first appeared in a “Communist” (Spanish) newspaper during late 1936. The implication seems to evolve around Catholic duplicity and the Vatican’s open support for the fascist movement! As Catholics were everywhere – and were guided by their Catholic Priests – there was a perpetual threat to the democratically elected “Socialist” government “from within” or from “behind”! Just as the Catholic Church is guiding (and encouraging) far-right activists (Neo-Nazis) to travel from around the world to join the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) today – it also carried out exactly the same “recruiting” roll during the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939)! Anyone interested in this duplicitous history can access the work of Joseph McCabe. I have relied entirely upon Russian language sources for the following article as they are far more objective. My personal view is that the Communist Party of the Soviet Union constructed the phrase “Fifth Column” specifically to describe the antics of the Catholic Church in Spain – and issued this instruction to be used through the organs of the Communist Party of Spain! This would explain its spontaneous appearance throughout Spain at a particular point in time. ACW (6.6.2023)
The term “Fifth Column” can be traced to the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) and came into English through the original Spanish language term “quinta columna” (literally “Fifth Column”). This was during the early phase of the Civil War – primarily around 1936 (the year Nazi Germany held the Berlin Olympics). It gained considerable popularity in the media representing the democratically elected (left-leaning) “Republican” faction – from the beginning of October 1936. Ftom this root, the term “Fifth Column” spread abroad and was translated into a number of foreign languages.
The exact historical origin of the term is not clear with the various origination stories appearing to be anecdotal in nature. One such story states that the term “Fifth Column” was first used in a secret telegram sent to Berlin by the German Chargé d’Affaires (in Alicante) – Hans-Hermann Völkers – dated the 30th September, 1936. In this telegram – Hans-Hermann Völkers – makes reference to a “unverified” (circulating) statement (said to have been made by Franco) that a “Fifth Column” was in operation (either in the Republican Zone in general – or in the Republican Zone of the Levante specifically). Franco allegedly claimed that Four “Nationalist” Columns were approaching Madrid – with a (loyal) “Fifth Column” of fascists, right-wingers and Catholics waiting to rise from within! The problem with this origination story is that the telegram in question was part of a “Secret” German diplomatic correspondence – that was many decades after the Spanish Civil War ended – and which was not common knowledge during the time period in question. In other words, even if the term was used in this telegram (which is doubtful) – its usage was NOT known at the time and therefore this cannot be the TRUE origination story.
The first identifiable public use of the term “Fifth Column” occurred on October 3rd, 1936 – and appeared in an issue of the Madrid (Communist) Daily Mundo Obrero Newspaper. In a front-page article – Communist Party activist – Dolores Ibarruri – referred to a similar statement as recorded above but attributed it to the fascist – General Emilio Mola. On the same day, Communist Party of Spain (PCE) activist – Domingo Giron – made a similar statement during a public rally! In the days that followed, Republican newspapers repeated the story, but with different details; some attribute this phrase to General Queipo de Llano. By mid-October, the left-wing media had already warned against the now famous “Fifth column”!
Russian Language Sources:
https://ru.wikibrief.org/wiki/Fifth_column
https://yandex.ru/q/question/piataia_kolonna_eto_te_kto_za_diktatora_dc213475/
https://zavtra.ru/blogs/pyataya_kolonna_blef_ili_mif
Точное авторство термина «пятая колонна» достоверно неизвестно. В частности, оно приписывается испанскому националистическому генералу Эмилио Мола, командовавшему армией франкистов в ходе гражданской войны в Испании 1936 – 1939 годов, на основании свидетельства мадридского журналиста газеты «Нью-Йорк Таймс» ( американская ежедневная газета, публикуемая в Нью-Йорке с 18 сентября 1851 года) Уильяма Карни. Согласно Карни, во время блокады Мадрида в 1936 году Эмилио Мола сперва сказал журналисту, что, когда его четыре колонны войск приблизились к Мадриду, «пятая колонна» сторонников внутри города поддержит его и подорвёт республиканское правительство изнутри. Затем, уже наступая на Мадрид, Мола передал по радио в начале октября 1936 года обращение к населению испанской столицы, в котором заявил, что помимо имеющихся в его распоряжении четырёх армейских колонн он располагает также «пятой колонной» в самом Мадриде, которая в решающий момент ударит с тыла. Карни – консерватор, писавший свои репортажи со стороны националистов – в целом оценивается историками как ненадёжный свидетель.
SANGHA KOMMUNE (SSR) 