Hello,
It has been a while since I read Homage to Catalonia but I am interested in knowing how the various anarchist and POUM-related groups in Spain during the 1936-39 Civil War recruited international volunteers and organised themselves cf. the Communist Party-dominated International Brigades. The I.B. appears to have been predominantly led by pro-USSR organisations and individuals so how would an anarchist living in England or Italy or America have got to Spain to fight for the 'right' people?
Thanks!
Some background first.
Most of the international volunteers actually fought in the International Brigades. These brigades were dominated by Communst Parties of Europe (and therefore by the Soviets) but they weren't advertised this way. They were advertised as international defense of the Spanish Republic and should include people of various political backgrounds. Most people were Communists (besides the "adventurers"), but not all.
The first batch of International fighters were in the city before the war. At the start of the war the People's Olympiad was held in Barcelona (sports event similar to the Olympics but with socialist background). A lot of the participants joined the hastily found Militias. The I.B.'s didn't exist at this point in time (they were founded a few months later).
For later volunteers and their path to Spain I really don't know. I'd imagine that the french anarchists and anarcho-syndicalist Unions helped individuals reach Spain, similiar to how the CPs helped to smuggle people into Spain. But this is mostly assumptions that I can't back.
Apparently Thomas, Hugh The Spanish Civil War, 2001 has infos on non-IB volunteers. I didn't read the book and only found this mention due to reading something else, so no guarantee by me.