International Brigade Memorial Booklet

The sixth item from this International Brigade collection is this, the official first edition souvenir booklet of the British Battalion XV of the International Brigade with various accounts, Roll of Honour, short biographies, etc.

Produced just prior to WW11, the booklet contains numerous photographs and drawings in 80 pages. Very good lightly used condition with all pages intact.

In April 1931 the new Republican Government in Spain began implementing social reforms. They were strongly opposed by the landowners, Catholic Church and traditional elements within the army.

In the 1933 elections Spain swung to the right and the new government reversed many of the changes. Parties of the left united in the Popular Front and won the 1936 elections. After violent street battles between left and right in 1936, Nationalist army officers led by General Franco staged a coup to overthrow the Republican Government. They were aided by fascist Italy and Nazi Germany which supplied money, weapons, and troops. Britain refused to intervene.

International Brigades

Some 30,000 foreign volunteers, including many from Britain, went to fight in the International Brigades for the Republic.