In Barcelona workers began to respond as members of the Confederación Nacional del Trabajo (CNT) union seized 200 rifles from the holds of two ships docked in the harbour and distributed them to union activists. 

 

These events marked the beginning of the Spanish civil war. In the coming days,full-scale social revolution would break out which would set the Spanish working class, and volunteers from across the world, against the combined might of the bulk of the Spanish military backed up by Nazi Germany and fascist Italy. Members of the Industrial Workers of the World answered that call as many fellow workers travelled to fight.

 

Pictured: revolutionary militia fighters in the Spanish Revolution

Source: www.onebigunion.ie