We just received the sad news that Spanish Civil War veteran George Sossenko has passed away. Born in Russia, George left his parent’s home in Paris, France, at age 17 to join those fighting against Francisco Franco’s nationalist forces in the Spanish Civil War. He initially went to the offices of the French Communist Party, but was turned away, and then denied by the Socialists as well. They suggested he contact the anarchists, who sent him across the Spanish border in a caravan. He was sent to Barcelona, then received one week’s worth of military training before being sent to the front. During the Civil War, Sossenko changed his name to Georges Jorat to avoid being found by his parents, and fought as part of the Centuria Sébastien Faure, the French-speaking contingent of the Durruti Column. After the Spanish Civil War, Sossenko later fought in World War II with the Free French.

Later on, Sossenko moved to the United States and went to work for Michelin Tire as a mechanical engineer. He first worked in Texas, but was transferred to Atlanta, Georgia. In 1984, Sossenko sued Michelin after being threatened with losing his job. He continued to live in Atlanta with his wife Bernice. In 2004, Sossenko published Aventurero Idealista. Click here for a video of George speaking about his final battle in World War II.

Biography courtesy of Wikipedia.