DVORSKÝ, Štefan: Verbovanie a cesty slovenských dobrovoľníkov do Španielska (1936 – 1939)

DVORSKÝ, Štefan: The Recruitment and Journeys of Slovak Volunteers to Spain (1936–1939).

Autor: DVORSKÝ, Štefan

This study addresses the recruitment and travel of Slovak volunteers to Spain during the Spanish Civil War, from 1936 to 1939. It analyses the international context of the formation of the International Brigades and the specific features of the recruitment structures in Slovakia. The author identifies a structured system of recruitment operating at local, regional, and central levels, highlighting its effectiveness despite repressive measures by the Czechoslovak state authorities. The research reveals the diverse motivations of the Slovak volunteers, which included ideological conviction, economic factors, and personal reasons. Particular attention is paid to the specific travel routes used by the Slovak volunteers and the challenges they faced in their attempts to reach Spain. The study also analyses the restrictive measures taken by the Czechoslovak state against the volunteers and the organisers of the recruitment campaign, noting their inconsistent implementation in practice. Drawing upon archival sources and participants’ memoirs, the study offers a new perspective on the phenomenon of the Slovak International Brigaders within the broader context of the international workers’ movement and the anti-fascist resistance. 

Keywords: Spanish Civil War, International Brigades, Slovak volunteers, Communist Party

of Czechoslovakia.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.69809/vojhist.2025.29.4.2

 

Ročník: 29 | Číslo: 4/2025 | Stránky: 24-43