Miners Against Fascsim: Wales and the Spanish Civil War

Description

Welsh miners made up one of the largest contingents within the British Battalion of the International Brigades in the Spanish Civil War.Coming from the valleys all across South Wales, they brought with them a political tradition unique in Britain in its combination of trade union militancy, radical extra-parliamentary activity and internationalism. Hywel Francis draws on a wide variety of contemporary sources to paint a vivid picture of the tumultuous politics of South Wales in the 1920s and 1930s – the context for the decision made by so many to volunteer.

The book describes the process of volunteering, the militant role played by the Welsh volunteers, and the mass movements of political solidarity with Spain within Wales. It also includes many illustrations, and reproduces letters written by volunteers to their relatives and friends back in Wales.

This updated edition includes a new preface and a newly compiled complete list of all Welsh volunteers.

Hywel Francishas been Labour MP for Aberavon since 2001. An expert on South Wales labour movement history, and former Professor of Continuing Education at Swansea University, he was the founder of the South Wales Miners’ Library and co-author ofThe Fed, the definitive history of the South Wales miners. He is also author ofHistory on our Side: Wales and the 1984/5 Miners’ strikeand a Fellow of the Royal Historical Soceity