Memorial to Australians in the Spanish Civil War

In the courtyard of the Melbourne Trades Hall in Lygon St, Carlton, there is an unusual war memorial – a monument commemorating the Australians who fought as volunteers in the Spanish Civil War (1936 – 1939).

When civil war broke out in Spain in 1936, it had little relevance for the majority of Australians. However, there were some for whom it was of intense interest. In Spain, the right-wing Nationalist government led by General Franco was receiving aid and troops from Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany, while the left-wing Republican rebels were being assisted by the Soviet Union and the volunteers of the International Brigades.

Here in Melbourne, the Catholic Church and others saw the war as a fight against international communism and supported the nationalist government, while leftists saw it as a fight against fascism and supported the republican cause.

These differences were acutely manifested at a meeting held in Melbourne University on March 22, 1937, to debate the question: “Is the Spanish Government the ruin of Spain?”

The event had been well publicised, and around a thousand students and visitors crowded into the Public Lecture Theatre to hear two teams debate. Feelings ran high from the beginning, and the meeting quickly became heated and rowdy.

Speakers both from sides were constantly interrupted by hecklers. A number of students caused interruptions by running around on the roof over the lecture theatre, creating so much noise that the speakers could not be heard.

Others attempted to run fire hoses in from the corridors and turn them on the meeting, but these were checked by the police who were present. At the end of the meeting, the motion was put to the house and was carried with prolonged applause.

The Spanish Civil War attracted interest and support from leftists all around the world, and thousands volunteered to go to Spain and fight for the republican cause in one of the international brigades.

Among them were at least 72 men and women from Australia, whose names are listed on a bronze plaque on the memorial at Trades Hall. They tended to be trade unionist activists and/or Communists with an interest in international affairs.

The men who went to Spain either served as soldiers or worked in logistical roles, while the women volunteers worked as nurses, doctors, translators and in administrative support roles. It is thought that around 16 of the Australian volunteers were killed in action in Spain.

The Spanish Civil War came to an end in early 1939 with General Franco and the Nationalist forces victorious and the Republicans defeated. The violence from both sides left at least 500,000 people dead. •