Hearing libertarian leftists mention the Spanish Civil War and explain it as “the Soviets betraying anarchists” to justify their beliefs, as someone who actually had it in his school curriculum, is a level of pain that I wish to no one. No mention of their war industry mismanagement, no mention of their botched justice system, no mention of their military ineptitude at the Aragon front and most importantly, no mention of the actions of nonchalant sabotage against the broader Republican front (the real force against fascism) that led to the May Days of 1937.

Fantasizing about a romantisized picture of brave anarchist freedom fighters being stabbed with a dagger in the back by the devilish tankies dressing in cloaks is and will always be more adequate than picking up a book and actually learning about their movement’s past, be it with Catalonia, with Makhno’s Ukraine or absolutely anywhere else.

The fun part of it is that, because of it, you always have the chance of catching anarchists by surprise by showing them their own history and seeing them not knowing what to do. Next time you find one searching for trouble, ask them about Makhno’s history with Mennonites.