International Brigades
The International Brigades were composed of approximately 35,000 volunteers from around the world who fought against fascist forces during the Spanish Civil War from 1936 to 1939. This civil war erupted when military generals attempted to overthrow the democratically elected republican government, leading to a conflict characterized by a struggle between fascist insurgents and a coalition of republican supporters, including laborers, farmers, and intellectuals. The Soviet Union played a significant role in organizing these brigades through the Communist International, aiming to halt the spread of fascism and garner support from the global working class.
Volunteers came from around fifty countries, with notable numbers from France, Italy, and Britain, and included individuals with varying political motivations, some driven by ideals of communism while others were primarily focused on stopping fascism itself. Despite their dedication, many lacked military experience, resulting in significant casualties among the brigades. Although they fought valiantly, the brigades ultimately disbanded as it became clear that the republic would not prevail against better-equipped fascist forces, which received support from Nazi Germany and Mussolini's Italy.
Following the war, returning volunteers faced mixed receptions in their home countries. While some were celebrated as heroes, others, particularly in North America, faced suspicion and exclusion from military service. The conflict had enduring repercussions, as fascism continued to influence Europe, ultimately contributing to the outbreak of World War II.
International Brigades
The International Brigades included volunteers from around the world who helped fight fascists in Spain during the 1930s. In the 1930s, fascist military generals attempted to take over the fairly elected republican government, causing a civil war. Spanish citizens resisted the fascist takeover, and volunteers from many parts of the world came to help them stop the fascists. The Soviet Union started the International Brigades, in part to spread communism.
Background
In 1931, many Spaniards were impoverished and could barely afford to feed themselves. Nevertheless, a handful of people and institutions, mainly the Catholic Church, had a great deal of wealth and power. Many Spaniards blamed the king and his policies for the inequality in the country. King Alfonso XIII lost the support of his people. The monarchy was overthrown, and the Republic of Spain was created. The republic had elections and elected leaders. In 1935, a group of fascists inside the Spanish military made a plan to overthrow the republican government. The military generals who wanted to overtake the government traveled from Spanish-held Morocco back to Spain so they could confront republican officials. The military leaders believed that they should create a fascist government in Spain.
In 1936, the generals announced a declaration of opposition against the government, which began a struggle for power. The fascists and their forces led attacks in various parts of Spain. At first, the insurgents were successful in many areas of the country. Soon, Spain fell into civil war as groups—such as laborers, farmers, and intellectuals—opposed the fascist takeover and fought against it. The civilians were not well armed or trained, but they successfully resisted the military and even took over several large cities. Members of the army who had remained loyal protected the republican government.
Overview
Despite the work of the republic government army and the Spanish civilian volunteers, the fascists could not be defeated. Leaders in countries from around world looked at the situation in Spain and made foreign policy decisions based on the war. The Soviet Union realized that the fascists were hostile to their communist government. The Soviets wanted to stop the spread of fascism. Furthermore, they realized that supporting those who were fighting fascists could gain them support among the world's working class. The communists also wanted to draw Germany into a war in Spain, which would divert German forces so they would not attack the Soviet Union. Therefore, the Soviet Union used the Communist International (the Comintern), a group dedicated to spreading communist ideas, to create the brigades. The Comintern helped recruit people from many countries to join the brigades.
About 35,000 volunteers from other countries came to Spain. The majority joined the International Brigades to fight the fascists, and some volunteered as medical professionals. The volunteers came from roughly fifty countries. Nearly 10,000 of the volunteers were French, 3,000 were Italian, and 2,500 were British. Thousands of volunteers also came from the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, the United States, Canada, Belgium, Cuba, Norway, Argentina, Poland, and other countries. Although some of the volunteers had served in World War I (1914–1918), many of the people who made up the brigades had no military training or experience.
Some people who joined the brigades had communist ideals. Many of these people went on to join local communist parties, and they became aligned with the communist cause. Yet, many members of the brigades were uninterested in communist policy and cared only about stopping the fascists. Some of the volunteers, particularly those from Great Britain, had fought fascists in their own countries in the past.
Many volunteers joined the brigades because they had an idealistic vision of stopping fascism and perhaps spreading communism, which many volunteers believed would help the poor, farmers, and the working class people of Europe. Yet, the reality of war and fighting was very difficult. Many of the volunteers in the brigades were killed. Some had military experience, but others had never shot a gun in their lives. The members of the International Brigades had to follow some of the same rules that members of national militaries followed. For example, volunteers who tried to leave their units while in battle could be executed.
The republican army and the members of the brigades fought together against the fascists from 1936 to 1939. Although the republican coalition, including the members of the International Brigades, fought hard to maintain control in Spain, the fascists were well armed and well trained. Nazi Germany supplied the fascists and provided training to them. At the same time, the Nazis and the fascists under Benito Mussolini in Italy were gaining power in other parts of Europe. In 1938, the International Brigades mostly disbanded as it became clear that the republican coalition would lose. Thousands of members of the International Brigades fought and died during the war. By the end of March of 1939, all of Spain was under the control of the fascists.
After the International Brigades ended, the surviving volunteers faced various situations when they returned home. Many of the European volunteers, such as those from Belgium and France, were considered heroes because they had been fighting fascist forces—the same type of forces that would eventually align with Germany and attack other countries. Volunteers returning to Canada and the United States were viewed suspiciously, and many were blocked from joining their countries' militaries.
After the Spanish Civil War, fascism and related ideology remained popular in Europe. The Nazis and the fascists attempted to take over all of Europe, leading much of the world into World War II (1939–1945). It was only after the Allies defeated the Axis powers in that war that fascism became less prominent in Europe. Despite the Axis powers' loss, the fascist Francisco Franco remained in power in Spain, which did not officially participate in World War II, until his death in 1975.
Bibliography
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"Fighting for an Ideal." The Newman Library of Baruch College www.baruch.cuny.edu/library/alumni/online‗exhibits/Spanish‗Civil‗War/index.html. Accessed 25 Sept. 2017.
"The International Brigades in the Spanish War 1936–1939: Flags and Symbols." The Flag Institute, Mar. 2003, www.flaginstitute.org/pdfs/Sebastia%20Herreros.pdf. Accessed 25 Sept. 2017.
"Introduction." International Brigade Memorial Trust, www.international-brigades.org.uk/content/introduction. Accessed 25 Sept. 2017.
"Introduction to the Spanish Civil War." Abraham Lincoln Brigade Archives, www.alba-valb.org/resources/lessons/introduction-to-the-spanish-civil-war/. Accessed 25 Sept. 2017.
Lazaroff, Leon. "Spanish Civil War Volunteers Gather for an Emotional Reunion." The Philadelphia Inquirer, 6 Nov. 1996, www.writing.upenn.edu/~afilreis/50s/spain-reunion.html. Accessed 25 Sept. 2017.
Roseth, Bob. "Monument to Spanish Civil War Volunteers to Be Dedicated Oct. 14." University of Washington, 9 Sept. 1998, www.washington.edu/news/1998/09/09/monument-to-spanish-civil-war-volunteers-to-be-dedicated-oct-14/. Accessed 25 Sept. 2017.
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