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Birmingham and the Spanish Civil War

I

Ian Binnie

knowlegable brummie
I have agreed to do a display on Birmingham and the Spanish Civil War but don't actually know much about it (complex reasons for volunteering). I know a fair bit about the SCW generally but can anyone point me in the direction of resources or send me any information please?
 
I suppose the biggest Birmingham involvement in the Spanish Civil War was the PM Neville Chamberlain, born on 18 March 1869 in a house called Southbourne in the Edgbaston district of Birmingham.
 
Dave89 said:
Hi,

The author George Orwell took part in the SCW.

Kind regards
Dave
Click to expand...
Yes, his book Homage to Catalonia is still readable and describes his experiences. Orwell, unlike many British volunteers went with POUM (a pro-Trotsky, anti-Stalin group) rather than the Communist Party. There were many British volunteers in the International Brigades, the author of Cider with Rosie, Laurie Lee was another. He was unwell and lasted 11 weeks, but wrote a graphic account later in life. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/spanish-civil-war-remembrance-laurie-lee-brigade-penelope-middelboe
 
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I imagine that some Birmingham based communists, trades unionists and idealist students and anti-fascists fought in Spain against Franco. Most recruitment was by the British Communist Party and volunteers were closely observed by MI5. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2011/jun/28/mi5-spanish-civil-war-britain
Might be useful: https://spartacus-educational.com/Spanish-Civil-War.htm. (There are few if any neutral sources on the SCW)

I supervised a final year literary thesis on Orwell, so I know some background. Can't help with names of Birmingham volunteers, I'm afraid. Derek
 
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