There were about 35,000 volunteers who came to Spain to join the ranks of the Republican army to fight the rebellious side during the Civil War. An estimated 15,000 died. Coming from 50 countries, the International Brigades participated in the defense of Madrid and in the battles of Jarama, Guadalajara, Brunete, Belchite, Teruel, Aragón and the Ebro. In the aftermath of the latter, in 1938, the president of the government, Juan Negrín decided to withdraw the brigade members and made them a promise: “The Republic recognizes your right to claim Spanish citizenship when the war ends, and with this we will all honor ourselves.”
Barely five months later, the Republic fell, and it was not until 1996 that the 600 surviving brigade members were able to proudly apply for nationality.
