Civil War - THE INTERNATIONAL BRIGADES

Question 1

What was the politics of the international brigades?

Answer 1

left wing + organised by the comintern

Question 2

When did the international brigade start to arrive?

Answer 2

autumn 1936 + provided vital manpower to the republicans

Question 3

International brigadier example?

Answer 3

George Orwell = well known example + wrote Homage to Catalonia
+
James Maley = scottish volunteer (1/550 scottish volunteers + 1/2,300 UK volunteers known as the British Battalion)

Question 4

How many international brigadiers were there approx.?

Answer 4

35,000-40,000 estimated to have joined over the war BUT never more than 16,000 at a time
- 3,000 from USA
- 2,000 from GB
- 9,000 from Fr
- 53 nationalities in total

Question 5

What was the limitations of the International Brigades?

Answer 5

not professional soldiers, under-equipped, at a disadvantage when facing Franco’s forces

Question 6

How did the International Brigades get there?

Answer 6

members crossed on the ‘secret railway’ across french/spanish border

first unit organised by Jospeh Broz (later Marshal Tito - President of Yugoslavia) from an office in Paris
- sent 500 volunteers to Albacete on train 77

Question 7

Overall impact of the International Brigades?

Answer 7

impact on outcome of war limited BUT boosted republican morale + military capacity