During 1938, attempts were made by international bodies to put an end to the Civil War. The Republic realised that it was weak and Juan Negrín’s government tried to reach some kind of agreement. One of the cards it played was that of attempting to de-internationalise the conflict. To this end, on 21 September the Republican government published its commitment to withdraw the International Brigades, in the hope that this decision would encourage the European powers to pressurise Franco.
The Brigades saw their last day of battle on 23 September 1938. By the end of October, various acts of homage took place in different Spanish towns and cities, the largest of which was the procession held in Barcelona on 28 October. The city awoke filled with banners and posters referring to the International Brigades, who marched down the avenue known as Avenida 14 de Abril (now the Avenida Diagonal) before the governments of the Republic and the Generalitat, as well as more than 300,000 people, in a highly charged atmosphere and with a historic speech by Dolores Ibárruri.
Most of the surviving volunteers attempted to return to their home countries but, once back, many encountered various problems, both due to the imminent start of the Second World War and, later on, with the start of the Cold War, when they were suspected of being communists.
Spanish Royal Decree 39/1996, dated 19 January, granted Spanish nationality to the volunteers from the Brigades. This kept the promise made to them by Juan Negrín when they originally left Spain.
On 4 October 2008, the Cabinet passed a decree granting Spanish nationality to members of the International Brigades that had been forced to give up their own nationality as a result of them fighting for the Spanish Republic.
The Brigades saw their last day of battle on 23 September 1938. By the end of October, various acts of homage took place in different Spanish towns and cities, the largest of which was the procession held in Barcelona on 28 October. The city awoke filled with banners and posters referring to the International Brigades, who marched down the avenue known as Avenida 14 de Abril (now the Avenida Diagonal) before the governments of the Republic and the Generalitat, as well as more than 300,000 people, in a highly charged atmosphere and with a historic speech by Dolores Ibárruri.
Most of the surviving volunteers attempted to return to their home countries but, once back, many encountered various problems, both due to the imminent start of the Second World War and, later on, with the start of the Cold War, when they were suspected of being communists.
Spanish Royal Decree 39/1996, dated 19 January, granted Spanish nationality to the volunteers from the Brigades. This kept the promise made to them by Juan Negrín when they originally left Spain.
On 4 October 2008, the Cabinet passed a decree granting Spanish nationality to members of the International Brigades that had been forced to give up their own nationality as a result of them fighting for the Spanish Republic.
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