Participation of Latvian Volunteers in Medical Aid to the Spanish Republic during the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939)

Abstract

Of more than 100 Latvian volunteers that participated in the Spanish Civil War, 15 were involved in providing medical aid to the Spanish Republic. Among these volunteers were both men and women, who worked not only as nurses but also as doctors. The aim of the article is to analyse the participation of Latvian volunteers in the Republican medical service (1936–1939) focusing on their motivation, arrival in Spain, activities during the conflict and departure from Spain. This article also includes information about Spanish Civil War participants of Latvian origin that had lost Latvian citizenship at the time of the conflict in order to provide a broader perspective to Latvian participation and its surrounding circumstances.

Keywords

• Spanish Civil War
• medical aid
• medical personnel
• Latvian volunteers
• Latvian foreign policy