Spanish Civil War

More about Spanish Civil War

As the Civil War escalated Franco appealed for help in arms and military support from Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany, whilst the Republicans sought aid from Soviet Russia. The key European powers such as Britain and France had declared neutrality and distanced themselves from the Spanish Civil War lest it turn into an international conflict. Through the Third International the Republicans sought to recruit volunteers from abroad to aid their cause; and that call was duly answered. The men forming the International Brigades came from various countries and backgrounds, and although many were left-wing and Communist sympathizers, other political persuasions were represented. The volunteers came from Germany, France, Britain, Hungary, Italy, Russia, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, USA, Belgium, and other countries.