Description
Book SynopsisThe outbreak of the Spanish Civil War threw Irish politics, north and south of the border, into turmoil. Tragic events in Spain aroused emotive responses across the spectrum of Irish society. In contrast to most other communities of the British Isles, citizens of the Irish Free State were mainly pro-Franco. But many on the left felt a strong identification with the plight of the Republic. Ireland sent large organized bodies of men to fight on opposite sides in the Spanish Civil War. The International Brigade volunteers were led by the IRA warrior, Frank Ryan. Their rivals, who became a battalion of Franco's Foreign Legion were mostly members of the semi-facist Blueshirts, and were commanded by the ex-leader of that movement, General Eoin O'Duffy. In late 1936, two enemy crusades - Communist and Catholic - left Ireland to fight it out in Spain. This book, illuminated by personal histories, tells the story of what happened to those two sides. Starting with their eventful journey to Spain, it follows their footsteps across the battlefields of Spain.
Table of ContentsPart 1 Prologue - the war of ideals. Part 2 The Catholic crusade: the origins of the Irish brigade; organization, recruitment, transport; vigil in Caceres; on the Madrid Front; crisis and collapse; the reckoning. Part 3 The Communist crusade: up the Republic!; in the ranks of the Comintern army; struggle for identity, struggle for victory; faces of defeat. Part 4 Epilogue - the peace of history. Appendices: partial list of XV Bandera; Spanish members of XV Bandera; command and unit structure of XV Bandera; Irish members of the international brigades.
