Published by New Holland in 2009, 248 pages. Hardback with Dust Jacket (N4383)
Brand New Book
This book was written to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the end of the Spanish Civil War, a war that inspired thousands of men and women to fight Fascism in Spain, but one that has since been overshadowed in history by the Second World War.
Men and women from every strata of society and from around 50 countries were inspired to volunteer and risk their lives fighting, nursing and reporting for the Republicans in Spain. But what drew so many to fight this cause that was not their own and how did this war capture the passion of so many? And, most importantly, what were the experiences of those who fought as part of the International Brigades in this vicious battle of ideals between communism and Franco's Fascism?
This fascinating book reveals through volunteers' own words the circumstances that combined to unite men and women from across the world as anti-Fascists in Spain. It brings together a collection of interviews and writings from the members of the International Brigades, and is based on original and previously unpublished interviews from the Imperial War Museum's sound archives as well as other first-hand accounts from surviving members.
The event that galvanized the volunteers and the many thousands who supported them in Britain was the fascist rebellion in Spain, led by General Franco and supported by the fascist regimes in Germany and Italy. This rebellion sought to overthrow the democratically elected Second Spanish Republic, which had come to power in Spain on July 17, 1936, and the rebels benefited immensley by the betrayal of the western powers, who refused to support the legitimate government of Spain (through their policy of non intervention). This led to huge numbers of volunteers travelling from Britain to Spain to fight for the government and against fascism (and who were organised in the International Brigades), as well as a well organised 'Aid to Spain' campaign in Britain itself.
| Condition | New |