Solidarity
The call for solidarity between peoples and regions, and through international aid, was a fundamental pillar of the Republic's welfare policy.
Solidarity work during the Spanish Civil War was led by humanitarian organizations that already existed, as well as others that were created during the conflict. This humanitarian effort appealed to a spirit of solidarity among the population, both in Spain and abroad.
Before July 19th... (Circa 1937) by Arturo BallesterPablo Iglesias Foundation
Solidarity for children
Children were the main focus of protection measures introduced by national and local authorities, and aid organizations. They set up children's hygiene and health services, with special care given to orphans and the children of soldiers.
Evacuated children... (1937) by Enric ClusellesPablo Iglesias Foundation
In an appeal for solidarity between regions, children's camps were set up as places where they could find refuge and escape from the tragedies of war, as well as continuing to have their health, hygiene, and educational needs protected.
Tribute from the theatre artists... (1938) by MonteroPablo Iglesias Foundation
The Red Cross
The Red Cross had two delegations in Spain and respected their impartiality and independence. There was one delegation in insurgent nationlist areas (based in Burgos and Seville), and one in Republican areas (based in Madrid and Barcelona).
Solidarity Congress (Circa 1936) by EspertPablo Iglesias Foundation
International Red Aid
A communist organization created in Moscow in 1922, International Red Aid was an important body for the provision of humanitarian aid and dissemination of political ideas, until it was dissolved in 1943. It had two centers in Spain: Spanish Red Aid (Socorro Rojo de España) in Madrid and Catalonian Red Aid (Socors Roig de Catalunya) in Barcelona.
Donate to the campaign... (Circa 1936) by YESPablo Iglesias Foundation
Having had a presence in Spain since the Revolution of 1934, it was responsible for providing clothes, food, and other necessities to prisoners, as well as families and other citizens who needed them.
Comrade: help the children's party... (Circa 1937) by V. Ballester MarcoPablo Iglesias Foundation
International Antifascist Solidarity
International Antifascist Solidarity (Solidaridad Internacional Antifascista) was an anarchist humanitarian organization founded in May 1937 by the Spanish National Labor Confederation (Confederación Nacional del Trabajo). It was also a means of seeking international support for libertarian ideas in the face of the advance and predominance of the Communist Party of Spain (PCE) and International Red Aid. International Antifascist Solidarity successfully created countless international sections.
The Popular Front of Madrid... (Circa 1937) by ParrillaPablo Iglesias Foundation
The International Brigades
The antifascist solidarity cause attracted tens of thousands of volunteers of different races from around 50 countries. The Republican government approved the creation of these brigades on October 22, 1936, and their general headquarters were established in the city of Albacete.
The International Brigades carried out their first military action at the Madrid front from November 1936. They played a crucial role in the Battle of Jarama in February 1937, successfully stopping the advance of the insurgent troops.
Homage to the International Brigades... (Circa 1937) by EspertPablo Iglesias Foundation
The arrival of the International Brigades boosted the morale of the Republican ranks. They went on to fight in the Battles of Guadalajara and Brunete in the first half of 1937, both with very high loss of life.
The last battle they participated in was the Republican offensive on the River Ebro between July and November 1938. They took part until September 22, the day after it was announced that all foreigners would be withdrawn from the Republican ranks.
The Popular Front of Madrid... (Circa 1937) by J. BrionesPablo Iglesias Foundation
They parted ways in Barcelona on October 28, 1938. With approximately 10,000 casualties, many of them returned to their own countries, where they were persecuted and imprisoned. Many more enlisted in the Allied armies in World War II.
The International Brigades were a universal mass solidarity movement. Although the initial romanticism of the fight against fascism turned into a reality of tactics and discipline, the spirit of solidarity was always present among the brigade members.
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