Group    From 1936  To 1938

International Brigades

Categories: Armed Forces

Countries: Spain

A military uprising in Spain in July 1936 was assisted by Hitler and Mussolini. The elected Spanish Republican government pleaded for help from France and Britain but, as part of the appeasement philosophy, this was denied. Many people across Europe were so appalled and worried that Spain might fall to the Fascists that they volunteered to fight alongside the Republicans. The Comintern (Communist International) organised these foreign volunteers into International Brigades.  It was estimated that between 30,000 and 35,000 people were involved in the Brigades.  More than 2,300 volunteers came from Britain, Ireland and the commonwealth, of who over 500 were killed. The majority were working-class and members of the Communist Party.

A Non-Intervention Committee had been set up by many European countries, with the aim of preventing personnel and supplies reaching the warring parties. In October 1938, this committee ordered the withdrawal of the brigades, while at the same time turning a blind eye to the support that Germany and Italy were giving to the Nationalist side.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
International Brigades

Commemorated ati

Hammersmith and Fulham International Brigade

{Front of memorial:} International Brigade In honour of the volunteers who le...

Read More

International Brigade

The quote “they went….other way” is a paraphrase of two lines from C. Day Lew...

Read More

Tower Hamlets International Brigade

'No Pasaran' translates from Spanish as 'they shall not pass'.

Read More

Other Subjects

Boudicca / Boadicea / Boudica

Boudicca / Boadicea / Boudica

Queen of the Iceni.  When the Romans arrived in AD 43 her husband, Prasutagus, was ruling the Iceni, the people in East Anglia.  The Romans allowed him to continue his rule but when he died their a...

Person, Armed Forces, Nationalism, Seriously Famous

2 memorials
Rifleman Andrew Duncan Tait

Rifleman Andrew Duncan Tait

Andrew Duncan Tait was born on 12 December 1897 the second of the five children of Andrew Tait (1866-1954) and Alice Jane Tait née Brookman (1864-1955). His birth was registered in the 1st quarter ...

Person, Armed Forces, France

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
A. J. Chesher

A. J. Chesher

J. Lyons & Co. Ltd. staff member who died in WW1.

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
Private Thomas John Casson

Private Thomas John Casson

Thomas John Casson was born circa 1886 in Lambeth, Surrey (now Greater London), the second of the seven children of James Casson (b.circa 1859) and Mary Sophia Casson née Young (circa 1866-1952). H...

Person, Armed Forces, Transport, Belgium, South Africa

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
W. L. Sutton

W. L. Sutton

Co-partner or employee of the South Suburban Gas Company. Served but did not die in WW1.

Person, Armed Forces

War served, WW1
1 memorial