k-Tanttila, Reino Herman. (Tantilla); b. December 27, 1909; Finnish American; Farmer and Lumberjack; YCL and CP both 1928; Received Passport# 395510 on April 22, 1937 which listed his address as Box 128, Zim, Minnesota; 29 years old; Sailed May 4, 1937 aboard the Berengaria; Arrived in Spain on May 27, 1937; Served with the XV BDE, Washington BN, MG Co., Section 1 and Lincoln-Washington MG Co. (Toivo Antikainen MG Section, 21 men; Squad 1 Toivo Suni, Commander, Carl Syvanen, Yrjo Keinanen, Waino Hamalainen, Alexius Salo, Raisanen, Sulo Niemi, Pyhatalo and Tanttila, acting Political Commissar, Squad 2 Henry Buska also Section Leader, Matti Haukkala, John Viitaniemi, Kerkkonen, Anttila, Matti Maki, Huosionmaa, and Jussi Savikko. Squad 3 Frans Pakkala, commander of squad, squad included other nationalities, Nilo Kruth was MG section leader); Commissar elected December 1, 1937; Transferred to BDE Special MG Co. in December 1937; Later Commissar; British BN; Served at Brunete, Quinto, Fuentes de Ebro, Teruel possibly serving with the British BN; KIA August 1938, died in Hospital, Albacete (alternate date of death June 20, 1938); Spoke English and Finnish.

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Sources: Scope of Soviet Activity; Washington; XV BDE; RGASPI Fond 545, Opis 3, Delo 455, ll. 94; Opis 6, Delo 998, ll. 38; USSDA 2:0972, 60:0815; Finnish, MPE.

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Photograph: Reino Herman Tanttila in the 1920s. Photograph University of Minnesotta Libraries.