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.

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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

Arthur Stanley Wint

Arthur Stanley Wint

Olympic gold medallist. Born in Plowden, Manchester, Jamaica. In 1942, he joined the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan and was sent to Britain for active combat in World War II. He left the RA...

Person, Armed Forces, Medicine, Politics & Administration, Sport / Games, Caribbean Islands, Denmark, Sweden

1 memorial
Hy. J. Amey

Hy. J. Amey

Resident of the Central Ward, Hendon who served and died in WW1.

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
Major-General William Roy

Major-General William Roy

Military engineer, surveyor, antiquary. Born South Lanarkshire.  Founder of the Ordnance Survey. 1749-55, one of a team that produced "The Duke of Cumberland's Map", commissioned by  George II as ...

Person, Armed Forces, Engineering, History, Science, Scotland

2 memorials
Serjeant Archibald Robert Howard, MM 

Serjeant Archibald Robert Howard, MM 

Archibald Robert Howard was born on 29 October 1886 in West Norwood, Surrey (now Greater London), the second of the seven children of George Howard (1855-1932) and Frances Margaret Faulkner Howard ...

Person, Armed Forces, France

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
E. V. Field

E. V. Field

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

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW1
1 memorial

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Polish Government in Exile

Polish Government in Exile

It was formed in the aftermath of the invasion of Poland by Germany in 1939 and continued through WW2 and the subsequent annexation by the Soviet Union. Based in Paris and Angers until France fell,...

Group, Politics & Administration, France, Poland

1 memorial
Transport for London / London Transport

Transport for London / London Transport

This organisation has been a bit of a political football, often having its name changed, as follows: 1902 - 1933 Underground Electric Railways Company of London 1933 - 1948 London Passenger Transpo...

Group, Industry, Transport

53 memorials
English Heritage

English Heritage

English Heritage (officially the English Heritage Trust) is a charity that manages over 400 historic monuments, buildings and places. These include prehistoric sites, medieval castles, Roman forts,...

Group, Architecture, History, Property

417 memorials
Police Memorial Trust

Police Memorial Trust

A charitable organisation created following a letter to The Times from Michael Winner about the death of Yvonne Fletcher, and it was in her memory that the Trust's first memorial was erected. The p...

Group, Armed Forces, History, Philanthropy

9 memorials
Catholic Apostolic Church

Catholic Apostolic Church

The Amwell Society say ". . . an eccentric sect which petered out in the 20th century because its priesthood depended on heredity. What was planned as its cathedral is now the University of Londo...

Group, Religion

1 memorial