Fifth Regiment

a combined group of volunteer military units of the Communist Party of Spain, established in August 1936 and placed at the disposal of the republican government.

The regiment was given the name because prior to the fascist revolt, which began on July 17–18, 1936, four regular regiments were deployed in Madrid. The 5th Regiment was marked by a precise military organization and discipline. Its core consisted of 400 Communist workers. Approximately 70,000 men were in the regiment at one time or another, of which 50 percent were Communists, 25 percent were Socialists, 15 percent were Left Republicans, and 10 percent were without party affiliation. The headquarters staff of the regiment was located in Madrid, and dozens of its battalions were stationed in all the major cities, where soldiers and officers in all branches received training. The 5th Regiment became the nucleus of the Popular Army of the Republic. In December 1936 the Communist Party transferred complete control of the regiment to the Popular Front government.