Dolores Ibarruri, La Pasionaria, was a prominent figure in the Spanish Communist party, leading the organization during the tumultuous Spanish Civil War. Born into poverty in Gallarta, she joined the Communist party in 1920, adopting the pseudonym La Pasonaria, meaning the passion flower, in 1918.
La Pasonaria's political career gained momentum when she became a member of the Spanish delegation of the Communist International, which convened in the Soviet Union in 1933. Her involvement in the Spanish Civil War earned her international recognition, particularly for her iconic phrases, "The fascists shall not pass! No Pasaran," and "It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees."
Following the conclusion of the Spanish Civil War, La Pasonaria fled to the USSR, where she became the Secretary General of the Communist Party in 1944. Under Soviet protection, she remained in Moscow until the death of General Francisco Franco. During this period, she spent considerable time traveling to various countries, including Cuba, China, Italy, Switzerland, and Yugoslavia, to organize and support Communist movements.
La Pasonaria's remarkable life was marked by numerous accolades. In 1964, she received the prestigious Lenin Peace Prize, and the following year, she was awarded the Order of Lenin. Upon Franco's death, she returned to Spain and became a member of the Spanish Parliament, where she was hailed as one of the war's greatest heroes.
Throughout her long and eventful life, La Pasonaria had the privilege of knowing and interacting with notable figures, including Ernest Hemingway, Alvah Bessie, Joseph Stalin, Fidel Castro, and George Seldes. Her remarkable story has inspired numerous novels and poems, cementing her place in history as a powerful symbol of resistance and defiance.
