First of May Group

First of May Group
First of May Group
Leaders	Octavio Alberola (alleged)
Dates of operation	1966-1974
Country	Spain, UK, France
Ideology	Anti-Francoist, Anti-Imperialism, Anarchism
Major actions	Kidnapping, Shooting, Bombings

The First of May Group was an anarchist anti-Franco resistance movement which took militant action against Francoist Spain. They were formed in 1966 by Spanish exiles including Iberian Federation of Libertarian Youth (FIJL) members in France,[1][2] dissatisfied with what they perceived as the quietism of other opposition groups. Actions attributed to the group include the kidnapping of diplomat and priest Monsignor Marcos Ussia,[3] occupation of the Vatican Embassy an in 1966 and the machine-gunning of the Spanish embassy in London.[1] A man claiming to speak for the group stated that they were behind the March 1974 bombing of the Spanish Cultural Institute in Dublin.[4] In 1980 the book Towards a citizens militia: anarchist alternatives to NATO and the Warsaw pact was written by 'International Revolutionary Solidarity Movement (First of May Group) and published by Cienfuegos Press.[5]

In Greece a group of a similar name but without any relation also appeared in 1989, mostly known for killing Supreme Court Prosecutor Anastasios Vernardos.[6][7]

Actions

Kidnapping of Marcos Ussia

The First of May Group staged its first attack on 1 May 1966 with the kidnapping the ecclesiastic adviser for the Spanish Embassy to the Vatican, Monsignor Marcos Ussia. Ussia was taken captive as he was driving to his home in the Rome suburbs by "three young anarchists" wearing masks who blocked a narrow road with a car and one of their bodies before taking him in their car to a house in which he was kept for the duration of his confinement. Ussia remained missing for eleven days before being released unharmed on 11 May 1966,[8] He was found after release approaching a Vatican Genarme Post in western Rome. Ussia at a subsequent press conference explained his kidnappers motives, saying they had kidnapped him in order to persuade Pope Paul to intervene in favour the release of all political prisoners in Spain.[3] Luis Andrés Edo was later formally accused of being complicit in the kidnapping after being arrested for Operation Durruti.[9]

Operation Durruti

On 24 October 1966 five members of First of May Group including Luis Andrés Edo were arrested in Madrid by the Brigada Político-Social, the Francoist secret police, and charged with preparing acts of terrorism after being infiltrated by a police informant. The group had planned to kidnap US Rear Admiral Norman Campbell Gillette, Jr., the Commander of US forces in Spain. The action was referred to as 'Operation Durruti' named after the famous Spanish Anarchist Buenaventura Durruti. Octavio Alberola later flew to New York personally to announce the failure of Operation Durruti in a press conference in which he confirmed the plan to kidnap Rear Admiral Gillette.

References

Meltzer, Albert (1996). I couldn't paint golden angels : sixty years of commonplace life and anarchist agitation. Edinburgh, Scotland: San Francisco, CA. ISBN 1-873176-93-7. OCLC 33948800. Archived from the original on 13 December 2019. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
"Anarchist international action against Francoism from Genoa 1949 to The First Of May Group". The Anarchist Library. Archived from the original on 14 December 2021. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
Pathé, British. "Vatican City: Spanish Priest After His Release By Anarchists Who Kidnapped Him 12 Days Ago". www.britishpathe.com. Archived from the original on 14 December 2021. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
Sam (6 December 2010). "Squatting, letter-bombs and hunger-strikes: The Case of Robert C." Come Here To Me!. Archived from the original on 24 June 2018. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
"Towards a citizens' militia: anarchist alternatives to NATO and the Warsaw pact". libcom.org. Archived from the original on 5 December 2020. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
"Third Greek prosecutor attacked this month". UPI. Archived from the original on 17 July 2020. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
"Gunman Kills Supreme Court Prosecutor, Third Official Shot In Two Weeks". AP News. Archived from the original on 17 July 2020. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
Carr, Gordon (2010). The Angry Brigade : a history of Britain's first urban guerilla group. Oakland, CA: PM Press. ISBN 978-1-60486-363-5. OCLC 706078503.
"Luis Andrés Edo : Anarchist activist whose life was dedicated to the 'Idea' and the struggle for liberty". www.katesharpleylibrary.net. Retrieved 14 December 2021.

Bibliography

Meltzer, Albert (1973). The International Revolutionary Solidarity Movement: 1st Of May Group. Cienfuegos. ISBN 978-0-904564-08-2.
Téllez, Antonio (2010). Anarchist International Action Against Francoism From Genoa 1949 to The First Of May Group. Kate Sharpley Library. ISBN 978-1-873605-85-1.

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[:0-1] Meltzer, Albert (1996). I couldn't paint golden angels : sixty years of commonplace life and anarchist agitation. Edinburgh, Scotland: San Francisco, CA. ISBN 1-873176-93-7. OCLC 33948800. Archived from the original on 13 December 2019. Retrieved 14 December 2021.

[2] "Anarchist international action against Francoism from Genoa 1949 to The First Of May Group". The Anarchist Library. Archived from the original on 14 December 2021. Retrieved 14 December 2021.

[:1-3] Pathé, British. "Vatican City: Spanish Priest After His Release By Anarchists Who Kidnapped Him 12 Days Ago". www.britishpathe.com. Archived from the original on 14 December 2021. Retrieved 14 December 2021.

[4] Sam (6 December 2010). "Squatting, letter-bombs and hunger-strikes: The Case of Robert C." Come Here To Me!. Archived from the original on 24 June 2018. Retrieved 12 May 2021.

[5] "Towards a citizens' militia: anarchist alternatives to NATO and the Warsaw pact". libcom.org. Archived from the original on 5 December 2020. Retrieved 14 December 2021.

[6] "Third Greek prosecutor attacked this month". UPI. Archived from the original on 17 July 2020. Retrieved 16 September 2019.

[7] "Gunman Kills Supreme Court Prosecutor, Third Official Shot In Two Weeks". AP News. Archived from the original on 17 July 2020. Retrieved 16 September 2019.

[8] Carr, Gordon (2010). The Angry Brigade : a history of Britain's first urban guerilla group. Oakland, CA: PM Press. ISBN 978-1-60486-363-5. OCLC 706078503.

[9] "Luis Andrés Edo : Anarchist activist whose life was dedicated to the 'Idea' and the struggle for liberty". www.katesharpleylibrary.net. Retrieved 14 December 2021.