"Have a go at what? those people, private citizens, who travelled to Spain to fight for the republican side were fighting for "socialism", "communism""
They were not
They were a mixed bunch - liberals, intellectuals, ane generally anti-fascists who saw the rise of fascism as a threat
The Communist Party played a part in recruiting and the Soviets sent arms (of a sort!!) but i general, The International Brigades were made up of those who wished to oppose fascism
My father was a practicing Catholic - a Collegiate student who has served mass for the priest
People he fought with were Trades Unionists and workmates of all commitments
Even the Civil War wasn't clear cut in its objectives but largely inspired by a military coup - not political ideals
My father crossed the Alps with a Hollywood film director as a companion.
Sure - some of them came back converted to communist or socialist ideals - just as many came back disillusioned because of the inter-political fighting between the general body of volunteers and the POUM (Anarchists)
To absolve their guilt for appeasing fascism, the establishment has depicted this war as Communist versus fascist - it never was as clear cut as that
Jim Carroll