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Black and white photo of seven military men, raising their fists in salute. One man holds a flag.
Members of the International Brigade in the British cookhouse at Albacete raise their fists in the Communist salute.

The Spanish Civil War begins.

1936

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Members of the International Brigade in the British cookhouse at Albacete raise their fists in the Communist salute.

The Spanish Civil War (1936–39) begins as a military revolt against the Republican government of Spain, which is supported by conservative elements within the country.

When an initial military coup fails to win control of the entire country, a bloody civil war ensues, and is fought with great ferocity on both sides. Thousands of volunteers, called the International Brigades, arrive in Spain to fight against fascism and for the anarchist revolution. From the U.S., a sizable number of those volunteers are doctors and nurses. Many bring their experiences back to the U.S., looking to shape collective care strategies modeled off anarchist examples in Spain.