British Volunteers in the Spanish Civil War The British Battalion in the International Brigades, 1936-1939

During the Spanish Civil War of 1936-1939 almost 2,500 men and women left Britain to fight for the Spanish Republic. This book examines the role, experiences and contribution of the volunteers who fought in the British Battalion of the 15 International Brigadesasking: *Who were these volunteers? * Where did they come from? * Why did they go to Spain? * How much did they actually help the Spanish Republic? In contrast to recent revisionist interpretations, this work stresses the crucial importance of the war experience itself, rather than political ideology, in the understanding of the volunteers' role and experiences within the Spanish war. This book will be of essential interest to historians and those interested in the Spanish Civil War.

1. Who were the British Volunteers? 2. Why did they Go? 3. Madrid, 1936: Manning the Spanish Barricades 4. Cerca de Madrid, 1937: The Battle of the Jarama and 'the Furnace of Brunete' 5. Into Aragon, 1937-38: Teruel, 'the Great Retreat' and the Ebro Offensive 6. Prisoners of War 7. British Volunteers for Liberty or Comintern Army?

Richard Baxell studied history as an undergraduate at Middlesex University, before taking an M.A. in Computer Application for History at the Institute of Historical Research. This book developed from research whilst reading for a Ph.D. at the London School of Economics and Political Science. He is currently researching into the British volunteers' attitudes and experiences during World War II.