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.

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...

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International Brigade

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

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Tower Hamlets International Brigade

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

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Other Subjects

12th Battalion (The Rangers)

12th Battalion (The Rangers)

London unit which served in WW1.

Group, Armed Forces

1 memorial
Bengal Artillery 6th Company 9rd Battalion

Bengal Artillery 6th Company 9rd Battalion

Part of the force commanded by Havelock.

Group, Armed Forces

1 memorial
Royal Army Service Corps - London Units

Royal Army Service Corps - London Units

London unit which served in WW1.

Group, Armed Forces

1 memorial
Laurence Corner Army Surplus

Laurence Corner Army Surplus

Closed when the owner, Victor Jamilly, died January 2007, aged 79.  The staff moved on and opened Squadron HQ in 121 Kentish Town Road.  Some sources give the opening date as 1947, but possibly tha...

Place, Armed Forces, Commerce

1 memorial
F. W. Holiday

F. W. Holiday

Employed at the Holloway tram garage. Served and was killed in WW1.

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW1
1 memorial