Trotskyist militia in Syrian Civil War

[Laika]

The Leon Sedov brigade, named after Leon Trotsky's son, had roughly 200 members (mainly Syrians) at its peak, establishing a base of operations in Aleppo. It was a workers militia, where its members would earn money in factories and through construction work to raise funds to operate at different battle fronts. leaders of the brigade were elected. Unlike other groups, they did not receive support from any foreign countries with weapons or funding. The majority of their weapons were of Soviet or Russian origin. In the midst of the fighting, they tried to form a united front with other left-wing groups or elements in other forces in Syria. The footage below is of Leon Sedov brigade travelling to fight in Aleppo.

Main Article Here: The Trotskyist León Sedov Brigade in the Syrian Revolution

Some additional material:
The fall of Aleppo- Leon Sedov brigade

Permanent Revolution Collective | The anti-imperialism of fools(the labor movement and counter-revolution in Syria)

This is recent history, but is obviously something almost no-one will have heard about. I admit I'm having to do a double take thinking "is this real?" as it would take a great deal of imagination to connect Trotskyists with Syria. They aren't alone as there are other Socialist and Communist groups that have fought there, but still its surreal. If you have any thoughts you're welcome to share.

**Please Note this is in the Communist Only Sub-forum**

 

[Stevicus]

I had not heard of this Trotskyist militia either. In my studies of Russian history, I recall that the one prevailing theme was Russia constantly being invaded and threatened by invasion. The "Tatar Yoke," which was really the Mongol Yoke, lasted for centuries. The Russians also had religious and cultural ties to Greece and the Byzantine Empire, which later fell to the Ottoman Turks, leading to centuries of enmity between Russia and Turkey. The Ottoman Empire also included Syria and Iraq up until WW1, after which the modern borders of Turkey were established, while Syria fell under French control as a consequence of the Treaty of Versailles. I saw a documentary on Syria a while back, and it was suggested that it was the French who screwed things up in Syria which planted the seeds of the current conflict in that country.