Irish Brigade (Spanish Civil War)
The Irish Brigade (Spanish: Brigada Irlandesa, Irish: Briogáid na hÉireann) fought on the Nationalist side during the Spanish Civil War. The unit was formed wholly of Roman Catholics by the politician Eoin O'Duffy, who had previously organised the Blueshirts and the Greenshirts in Ireland. Despite the declaration by the Irish government that participation in the war was unwelcome and ill-advised, 700 of O'Duffy's followers went to Spain. They saw their primary role in Spain as fighting for the Roman Catholic Church, which had come under attack by the Red Terror. They also saw many religious and historical parallels in the two nations, and hoped to prevent Communism gaining ground in Spain.
The Irish government destroyed its files relating to the Brigade in May 1940.
