Great Britain sent foodships and Medical Units. From Denmark to 
Ireland, from Cuba to Chile and the Argentine aid was organised. There 
was scarcely a country in which democrats did not in one way or ano- 
ther contribute support to the Spanish people. 

Mexico, never a signatory to the Non—Intervention Pact, exercised 
from the beginning of the war its right to send arms and munitions to 
the Spanish Republican Government. The effects of this aid were at 
last being felt. Helped by the increasing equalisation of arms, the Gov- 
ernment forces were now able to slow up Franco’s advance on Madrid. 
So Franco, depending on speed for success, had to seek more troops. 
He found the rank and file cannon-fodder from Italy; Mussolini sent 
whole divisions, equipped and officered before they embarked. Hitler 
supplied the pilots, the tank—crews and technicians for Franco’s various 
army departments. 

This open invasion had inevitable repercussions. It needed only such 
brazen intervention to clarify the issues at stake in Spain. It was now 
a question as to whether a people who had overwhelmingly rejected 
Fascism at the polls were to be allowed to solve their own destinies, or 
whether they were to be annihilated in an unofficial but overwhelming 
invasion, and their country made another base for international Fascist 
designs. The issue was at last crystal clear: Fascism versus Democracy. 

The challenge insolently thrown down by Mussolini and Hitler was 
quickly answered. Throughout the world, democrats — workers and 
intellectuals alike — stirred. If their governments would not act then 
they themselves would. The untrained, ill-armed militia of the Spanish 
Republican Army would not have to fight unaided any longer. Intern-
ational Fascism was throwing its forces into Spain; International De- 
mocracy would do likewise. 
 
So a momentous decision was spontaneously taken, and acted upon 
throughout the world. From the far corners of the earth came the 
Volunteers of Liberty, men of different — and differing — parties, 
workers, intellectuals of practically every nation under the sun, all 
with one common aim — to smash Fascism. 

Sympathy for justice brought some, hatred of injustice brought 
others. Some like Hans Beimler came exultantly to fight for a just 
cause. Others, like Ludwig Renn, hating all war, came realising that 
the Fascist menace had to be crushed now lest it overwhelm the world. 
Communist, Socialist, Labour Party member, Republican, Liberal and 
non-Party man found in the fight against Fascism a common rallying- 

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