Doncaster International Brigade Memorial Tree

A native tree to Mediterranean countries widely seen on images of the Spanish Civil War and has become a symbol of war

An overview

The Olive Tree commemorates the brave volunteers from Doncaster and South Yorkshire who volunteered to fight in the International Brigade to uphold the democratic republican government of Spain against the military Fascists led by General Franco.

British and French governments pursuing a policy of appeasement in Europe entered into a non-intervention pact whereas the Fascists were actively aided and supported by Hitler’s Germany and Mussolini’s Italy. Mass bombing of defenceless cities and towns such as Barcelona and Guernica, led by the German and Italian air forces heralded a dark and sinister type of warfare which would become all too familiar in the Second World War that soon followed.

The war was particularly bloody, claiming the lives of an estimated 750,000 Spaniards and thousands of International Brigade volunteers. An Irish poet and International Brigade volunteer noted of the olive trees found on many battlefields “Even the olive trees bleed.”

A Photo of the Olive Tree in Elmfield Park

Further information

The Spanish Civil war broke out in July 1936 and is widely regarded as being a full dress rehearsal for the Second World War. The Nationalist movement headed by the military (General Franco) attempted to overthrow the democratically elected Republican Government. The fascist regimes of Nazi Germany and Italy, under the dictatorship of Mussolini, aided the Nationalist in the form of troops and military hardware.

At this time, the British and French governments pursued a policy of non-intervention in the Civil War and a policy of appeasement of Germany and Italy so as not to escalate the prospect of a further World War. In Britain it was illegal to fight in the War, but this did not deter those opposed to the spread of fascist rule across Europe to join the International Brigade to fight on the side of the Republicans. People from across the UK including Yorkshire and Doncaster made their own way to Spain, mainly by rail to the ports and onto France where they would travel again by rail and into war torn Spain. It is estimated that 35,000 from around the world volunteered to join the Internal Brigade.

Volunteers from Britain to the International Brigade formed the 15^th Brigade. Whilst these volunteers were from various backgrounds they all had something in common, they were opposed to the spread of fascism. Many had seen active service in the First World War, but some had no military training.

The war brought about a new type of warfare where, for the first time, the civilian population was on the front line with the bombing of defenceless cities.

The precise number of volunteers from the UK is unknown as many wished to evade potential prosecution but volunteers from Doncaster and South Yorkshire are known to have fought, died, or were taken prisoner. It was a bloody war with no military medals or honours awarded.

The war ended in April 1939 with the fascists taking control and becoming recognised as the Government of Spain.

It is estimated that 9,000 volunteers of The International Brigade and approximately 750,000 Spaniards lost their lives in the conflict.

Franco ruled Spain until his death in 1975 when the Spanish monarchy was restored.

The Civil War is often known as the “Forgotten War” and whilst the horrors of the war have been well documented, Europe was very soon drawn into the Second World War despite the policy of appeasement towards the fascist regimes of Hitler’s Nazi Germany and Mussolini’s Italy.