It was originally mustered from international volunteers at
Albacete, Spain, in mid-October 1936 as the
IX Brigada Movíl, with four battalions: • Franco-Belgian Battalion (14 Oct 1936) • Austro-German Battalion (14 Oct 1936) • Italo-Spanish Battalion (14 Oct 1936) • Polish-Balkan Battalion (17 Oct 1936) It was redesignated the 'XI
"Hans Beimler" International Brigade' on 22 October 1936, with General "Kléber" (
Manfred Stern) commanding. The original battalions were renamed as follows: • The Franco-Belgian battalion, led by
Jules Dumont, became the
Commune de Paris Battalion • The Austro-German battalion, led by
Hans Kahle, became the
Edgar André Battalion, (after
Edgar André). • The Italo-Spanish battalion became the
Garibaldi Battalion, (after
Giuseppe Garibaldi). • The Polish-Balkan battalion, led by Boleslav Ulanovski, became the
Dabrowski Battalion (pronounced "Dombrowski"), (after
Jarosław Dąbrowski). Shortly after the formation of
XII International Brigade in November, 1936, its
Thälmann Battalion and the Garibaldi Battalion (which had no rifles) swapped places. Other units that formed part of
XI International Brigade at other times were: •
Anna Pauker Battery – Franco-Belgian Group • Asturias-Heredia Battalion • Hans Beimler Battalion • Madrid Battalion • Pacifico Battalion • Pasionaria Battalion • Zwölfter Februar Battalion The brigade fought in the battles of
Madrid, the
Corunna Road,
Jarama,
Guadalajara,
Brunete,
Belchite,
Teruel, and the Ebro. After the death of Hans Beimler the energetic
Giuseppe Di Vittorio became the political
commissar. ==Commemoration==