The Spanish Civil War, fought between 1936 and 1939, was a deeply polarising conflict between the Nationalists and Republicans. Beyond its military aspects, food became a tool of war, used to inflict damage as effectively as arms. In agricultural regions, particularly in conservative strongholds, controlling food production and distribution was crucial. The Republicans relied on supply lines to sustain both soldiers and civilians, encapsulated in the phrase, “tanto un arado como una ametralladora” – a plough is as important as a machine gun. Food shortages and targeted disruptions of supply routes played a decisive role in the war’s outcome.
British attitudes towards the Spanish Civil War were shaped by the government’s official non-interventionist stance. While the Labour Party also promoted non-intervention, it expressed empathy for the Republican cause. Within British society, especially in academic and intellectual circles, the war ignited intense debates and spurred efforts to aid Republican Spain. Oxford, with its politically engaged student body and vibrant intellectual culture, became a key centre of mobilisation. The war left a lasting imprint on the city, with university students and local residents actively involved in campaigns.Oxford’s Communist Party was particularly vocal, turning the university into a space for ideological contestation. The Oxford Mail adopted a pro-Republican stance, arguing that Franco’s victory depended on starving Republican civilians into submission. Among Oxford’s students, leftist factions used humanitarianism to justify engagement, framing their actions as moral rather than overtly political.
The Spanish Relief Fund was a prominent Oxford-based initiative supporting Republican Spain. It mobilised resources, selling 20,000 stamps to raise funds and holding numerous university fundraising events. Bookshops stocked literature on the war, and large public gatherings celebrated the cause. The campaign extended beyond financial support, as Oxford played a key role in sending food to Republican-held areas. The arrival of Basque children in Britain, including placements in Aston and Witney, was another result of these efforts. Many Oxford students saw their support for Spanish refugees as a means of resisting authoritarianism in Europe.
Women played a crucial role in Oxford’s response to the war. The four women-only colleges—Lady Margaret Hall, St Hilda’s, Somerville, and St Anne’s—were particularly active in relief efforts, focusing on helping displaced women and children. Somerville College took the lead in supporting Basque refugees, later joined by St Hugh’s. While women were expected to serve as caregivers rather than decision-makers, their involvement in relief efforts allowed them to engage in political activism in an acceptable framework.
Oxford also became a site of debate over the political nature of humanitarian aid. Many organisations engaged in relief work were not registered as political bodies, limiting their ability to make public statements. However, discussions at the Oxford Town Hall revealed that political campaigns were often more effective than purely humanitarian appeals. Some students participated in direct protests, challenging the notion that aid to Republican Spain could be apolitical. The arrival of over 4,000 Basque children at Southampton in April 1937 intensified these debates. Supporters argued that keeping the children in Britain was a humanitarian necessity, while critics saw their presence as an indirect form of intervention.
The wider British public’s response to the war was shaped by philanthropy and grassroots activism. While the government maintained its non-interventionist stance, many Britons supported private relief efforts. The war’s influence was visible in British culture, with events such as the 1937 coronation of King George VI used as platforms to promote aid efforts for Spain. This moment reflected the growing sense of global humanitarian responsibility that would later shape British responses to international crises.
In the discussion with Tom Buchanan, Professor of Modern British and European History at Oxford, it was noted that activism related to the Spanish Civil War was both immediate and long-lasting. British sympathisers initially sought to change government policy, but when it became clear that non-intervention would remain, activists turned to direct action, filling gaps through private relief initiatives. The 1930s, often seen as a radical decade, saw high levels of political mobilisation, particularly in university towns like Oxford, Cambridge, and Exeter. These towns became focal points for intellectual engagement with international conflicts, with Spain serving as a key reference point for ideological struggles.
Posada reflected on the war’s effects. While Spain was temporarily marginalised in mainstream European history after 1936, the conflict radicalised many political movements, particularly within the British left. Some students were more deeply affected by events in China than in Spain, drawing parallels between the Republican struggle and early resistance to Japanese aggression. The broader mobilisation of students against fascism laid the groundwork for future political movements.
The seminar concluded with a lively Q&A session addressing the Spanish and Greek Civil Wars, Oxfam’s post-war relief efforts, and the continued political debates surrounding Spain after Franco’s victory. One key question was why Spain, in particular, elicited such strong reactions from British citizens when other conflicts were occurring. The discussion suggested that the war’s ideological clarity, combined with powerful imagery of atrocities, made it a potent symbol of political engagement. Though only a minority of Britons actively supported Republican Spain, those who did were highly motivated and well-informed.
Another question explored how Spanish citizens viewed British aid efforts. While international support was welcomed, perceptions were shaped by the broader geopolitical context. The seminar highlighted how global humanitarian efforts are often coloured by political realities, with aid sometimes seen as an extension of foreign policy rather than a purely altruistic act.
The seminar provided valuable insights into the intersections of humanitarianism, politics, and historical memory. It highlighted the deep engagement of Oxford’s intellectual and student communities with the Spanish Civil War and underscored how the war’s legacy influenced later humanitarian movements. The mobilisation efforts of the 1930s, though often framed as acts of charity, carried significant political weight, shaping British perspectives on international intervention and humanitarian responsibility for decades to come.
by Yangyang Zhao (ESC Research Assistant)
No comments:
Post a Comment