Scotland and the Spanish Civil War

Francisco Franco as painted by Paco Ibera in La Guerra Ha Terminado.

Second lecture in the Glasgow and West of Scotland Branch by Daniel Gray, author of "Homage to Caledonia."

Professor Michael Gonzalez introduced the talk by setting the scene: the Spanish civil war was always an international war, a great confrontation between democracy and fascism.    Franco expected a four day war, but met massive popular resistance.   The question arose: can a mass popular movement adequately armed confront military force?

Opposition to fascism came naturally to Scots, according to Daniel Gray, who described  against a background of mass unemployment, poverty, and Scottish politics - with a socialist policy of ‘United action for a better tomorrow' - how people volunteered to fight in Spain.

The battles of Jarama and Brunete, the unpreparedness for battle, the high proportion of Scots fallen in the British battalion of the International Brigade, the commitment of men who had gone literally off the street to fight and the devotion of nurses like Ann Murray faced by horrific new forms of war wound were all brought together in an epic tale to pay homage to Caledonia.

Daniel Gray and Professor Michael Gonzalez answered respectively from the Scottish and the Spanish points of view the audience's questions.

How were volunteers recruited?

The decision to organise the international brigade was made by a committee in Moscow, but volunteers were driven by personal passion.

How do the Spanish see the Scottish involvement?

The absence of repression is only now revealing Spanish feeling. ( Ley de la Memoria )

What about the savage ironies?

Tito and others, in Scotland too, returned from Spain to fight fascism; film of bombed civilians today draws - as of Madrid  - volunteers.

Is not defence of democracy now as much as then a major issue?

Yes - with many parallels: in South America, now in the UK.

Attendance: 40