Spanish Civil War Material

Memorial leaflet to St Pancras men who died fighting [c1936-9] and various leaflets, newsletters (some copies) and pictures from people and groups associated with the Spanish Civil War including Organ of the front of the XV Brigade, Le Volontaire De la Liberte, Por que luchamos, Dimitrovac. Also, letters from Brigade Commanders.

In 1930, the military dictatorship of Primo de Rivera was overthrown and Spain became a Republic. The government attacked the Catholic Church, removing its control of education and nationalizing church property. This alienated parts of Spanish opinion and led to a right wing collation victory in the elections in 1933, along with a general strike and the declaration of Catalan Independence in 1934 (although this was crushed). In the 1936 elections, the left wing Popular Front were victorious. Although they promised land reform, events were out of control and peasants divided estates themselves, and churches and convents were burnt. The Spanish Army felt that their survival was under threat. This lead to the commander of the Spanish Army based in Morocco, General Francisco Franco, issuing a proclamation on the 18th July 1936, setting up an alternative government. The coup failed to overthrow the government because not all army units were prepared to rebel, the coup and ensuring split led directly to the outbreak of the civil war.

Franco and the Nationalists, supported by Germany and Italy, presented the civil war as a struggle against communism. The Popular Front, supported by Stalin, viewed it as a battle between democracy and fascism. Britain and France, in an attempt to appease Mussolini and Hitler and prevent a general European war, impeded the Republican war effort by using their navies to prevent supplies reaching them. While they followed a policy of non-invention, individuals in these countries who felt strongly in freedom, democracy and the defence of the Republic, went to Spain to be recruited in the International Brigade. The International Brigade numbered 40 000 and was a combination of intellectuals, industrial workers and political activists. Of the 174 that went from Wales, 118 were from the mining valleys of South Wales.

By the end of 1936, Franco held over half of Spain, mostly in the south and west, whilst the Republicans, based in Valencia, held eastern and southeastern Spain, and most of the industrial northern coastline. In November 1936, Germany and Italy officially recognised Franco's government and expected victory. In 1937 however, the first International Brigade arrived and defeated an attempt by the Italian troops on behalf of Franco to capture Madrid. Franco turned to the Northern regions; the republicans moved to Barcelona and defeated the Nationalists at Teruel. Having each taken strong points of the other's side, a stalemate was reached at the end of 1937. In 1938, this was broken by huge military aid from Italy and Germany and disagreements amongst the republicans. Franco advanced and by started attacking Barcelona and Madrid, the last strongholds of the republicans. The cities held out against his bombing until early 1939, and the war ended in victory for Franco and the Nationalists. Spain became the third pro-fascist power on the borders of France, and therefore the power of balance in Europe was altered in favour of the Third Reich.

Access unrestricted unless stated otherwise.

Received from Mr Hywel Francis, March 1995.

Finding aid encoded by Julie Anderson June 2003.

A paper list is available.

A photocopying service is available. Contact repository for details.

No publication without written permission from the Archivist.

GB 217 SWCC:PHO/SCW South Wales Coalfield Spanish Civil War Photographs, GB 217 SWCC : AUD/Project/9, Spanish Civil War Study (audio recordings), GB 097 COLL MISC 0091 SPANISH CIVIL WAR.

Descriptions for these collections are available on the Archives Hub.