Spanish Civil War exhibit opens in Aberdeen

By Calum Ross

September 2 2015, 6:46 am

Three Aberdonian anti-fascists Bob Cooney in the middle

An exhibition about the British volunteers who fought fascism in the Spanish Civil War was officially opened in Aberdeen yesterday.

Lord Provost George Adam launched the “Antifascistas” display at Aberdeen Central Library on the men and woman from the UK who travelled to Spain to fight for the Republican forces against those of Francisco Franco between 1936 and 1939.

The exhibition has been organised by the International Brigade Memorial Trust (IBMT) and will be on show in the Granite City until October 31.

Tommy Campbell, north-east organiser for the Unite trade union, said: “This International Brigade exhibition displays a very real anti-fascist tradition within Aberdeen and elsewhere in the world.

“The people of Aberdeen should be very proud of their history of international solidarity.

Scots International Brigadiers after capture

Captured by Franco's fascists, but still sporting wry smiles — Captured by Franco’s fascists, but still sporting wry smiles

During the war, the union collaborated with other republican groups opposed to the Nationalists. As the war developed, members of the CNT (Confederación Nacional del Trabajo (CNT; "National Confederation of Labour") came to form part of the government of the Republic, holding various ministries and high positions within the administration. In Barcelona, the anarchists managed the majority of the functions of society, collectivizing a large part of the activity of the city, as George Orwell described: It was the first time I had ever been in a town where the working class was in the saddle. Practically every building of any size had been seized by the workers and was draped with red flags or with the red and black flag of the Anarchists; every wall was scrawled with the hammer and sickle and with the initials of the revolutionary parties; almost every church had been gutted and its images burnt. Churches here and there were being systematically demolished by gangs of workmen. Every shop and café had an inscription saying that it had been collectivised; even the bootblacks had been collectivised and their boxes painted red and black. Waiters and shop-walkers looked you in the face and treated you as an equal. Servile and even ceremonial forms of speech had temporarily disappeared. Nobody said Señor or Don or even Usted; everyone called everyone else Comrade and Thou, and even said Salud! instead of Buenos dias. Many Scots fought with the CNT — Members of the CNT (Confederación Nacional del Trabajo (CNT; “National Confederation of Labour”) came to form part of the government of the Republic, holding various ministries and high positions within the administration.<br />In Barcelona, the anarchists managed the majority of the functions of society, collectivizing a large part of the activity of the city.<br />Many Scots fought with the CNT

“There were five brave men from Aberdeen who gave their lives fighting fascism to achieve the democracy the Spanish people now cherish.

“It was hope not hate that was the driving force behind the International Brigades and their legacy is that we now continue to campaign for peace, democracy and equal rights for everyone.

“They were part of a great yesterday and because of that they will always be part of a greater tomorrow.”

The lord provost said: “These men and women believed so passionately in the cause that they were prepared to give their lives for it.

“Many paid the ultimate sacrifice, including five men from the north-east. This exhibition brings the story to a new audience in a very accessible way.”

IBMT is a British charity which aims to keep alive the memory of more than 50,000 men and women from Britain, Ireland and the Commonwealth who volunteered in the war.

The display is one of a number of events planned by IBMT, including the trust’s annual meeting at Aberdeen Town House on Saturday, October 17.

Guernica, seen in this 1940 aerial file photo three years after German and Italian fighter planes, backing the fascist forces of Gen. Francisco Franco in the Spanish Civil War, leveled this historic Basque town on April 26, 1937.