List of surviving veterans of the Spanish Civil War
The following is a list of known surviving veterans of the Spanish Civil War (17 July 1936 – 1 April 1939). The total number of participating personnel is unknown, but an estimated 35,000 foreigners fought on the Republican side in what was known as the International Brigades. In addition, Adolf Hitler of Nazi Germany sent as many as 20,000 soldiers (not all at the same time) and Benito Mussolini of Italy sent as many as 60,000 soldiers to fight alongside the soldiers of Spanish General Francisco Franco.
Veterans, for this purpose, are defined as people who were members of the armed forces of one of the combatant forces up to and including the date recognized as the end of the War, which was 1 April 1939.
Republican forces – 18 veterans
Nationality | Name | Date of Birth and Age | Residence | Force served | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Spain | Astobiza, Juan José | N/A | Spain | Euzko Gudarostea | Joined the Martiartu battalion of the PNV. |
Spain | Llin Belda, Maria "Rosariet" Rosario | July 17, 1922 | Spain | Spanish Republican volunteers | Served in as a volunteer nurse at the Ontinyent military hospital. |
Spain | Mariné Bruguera, Juan | December 31, 1920 | Spain | Spanish Republican Army | "La quinta del biberón" fighter. Called up in 1938. Served on the Segre. Became a film maker after the war. |
Spain | Morera Darbra, Miquel | April 26, 1922 | Spain | Spanish Republican Army | Joined in 1936 with his father. Served at Teruel, Ebro, and Valsequillo. |
Spain | Cortés Esparraguera, Santos | March 10, 1921 | Spain | Spanish Republican Army | Joined the 70th Brigade in 1936. Fought at Madrid, Jarama, Guadalajara, Brunete, and Ebro. |
Spain | Ernabide, Ignacio | February 1, 1917 | Spain | Euzko Gudarostea | Joined the Loiola battalion of the PNV. Served as an instructor due prior weapon experience before the war. Fought at Villarreal. |
Spain | Gallart, Simó | March 20, 1920 | Spain | Spanish Republican Army | "La quinta del biberón" fighter. Joined at 18 years old. Fought at Segre and Ebro. |
Spain | Balbuena Iglesias, Mateo | September 21, 1913 | Spain | Euzko Gudarostea
Spanish Republican Army |
Participated in the Strike of 1934. Joined the Leandro Carro battalion of the PCE in 1936. Fought at Álava, Biscay, and Bilbao. Later made a lieutenant in the Republican Army. Became a writer after the war. |
Spain | Herms Mateu, Josep | January 11, 1920 | Spain | Spanish Republican Forces
Nationalist Army |
Served as an assistant to his father who was a Republican doctor. Captured by Francoist troops in 1939 and pressed into service before the end of the war. |
Spain | Mercader, Artur Tomàs | August 18, 1918 | Spain | Spanish Republican Army | Enlisted in 1937. Served as a spotter in an artillery unit. Fought at Ebro. Lives in Barcelona. |
Spain | de Miguel Montañés, Miguel | June 7, 1921 | Spain | Spanish Republican Air Force | Joined the FARE in 1936. Served in a bomber unit. Fought on the Aragon front. |
Spain | Farrés Oliveras, Salvador | September 4, 1920 | Spain | Spanish Republican Army | Enlisted in 1938. Fought at the Ebro and the Catalonia Offensive. |
Spain | Ángeles Flórez Peón | November 17, 1918 | Spain | Unified Socialist Youth | Joined in 1936. Served as a Cook and a Nurse. Arrested in 1937 following the capture of Asturias. |
Spain | Pérez, Julián | 1919 (102–103) | Spain | Unified Socialist Youth
Nationalist Army |
Joined Republican forces in 1936. Captured in 1937 and joined Francoist forces to escape staying at a labor camp. Served as a stretcher bearer. |
Spain | Piñón, Vicens | January 17, 1918 | Spain | Spanish Republican Army | Joined in 1936. Served as a medic at Belchite. |
Spain | Pons, Andrés | 1917 (104–105) | Argentina | Spanish Republican Army | Fought at Guadalajara. Became a lieutenant and was captured by Nationalist forces. Spent three years in captivity. |
Spain | Pons, Joan/Juan | N/A | Spain | Spanish Republican Army | "La quinta del biberón" fighter. |
Spain | Toledo, Salvador | April 12, 1919 | Spain | Spanish Republican Assault Guard | Joined in 1936. Served for three years. Sent to Morocco after the war. Lives in Badajoz. |
Nationalist forces – 7 veterans
Nationality | Name | Date of Birth and Age | Residence | Force served | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Spain | Placeres Alpuin, Pedro | June 29, 1920 | Spain | Nationalist Army | Enlisted in 1936. Served at Aragon. Left service in 1941. Lives on the Canary Islands. |
Spain | Pérez Casalderrey, José | August 1, 1919 | Spain | Nationalist Army | Enlisted in 1936. Fought at Asturias, Teruel, Aragon, and Cartagena. |
Spain | López López, José | 1916 (105–106) | Spain | Nationalist Army | Joined in 1936. Fought at the Ebro. Joined the Blue Division in 1942 and later served in Russia. |
Spain | Herms Mateu, Josep | January 11, 1920 | Spain | Spanish Republican Forces
Nationalist Army |
Served as an assistant to his father who was a Republican doctor. Captured by Francoist troops in 1939 and pressed into service before the end of the war. |
Spain | Fernández Olmo, José | March 11, 1919 | Spain | Nationalist Army | Mobilized at 18 years old. Had two brothers in Republican forces. Fought at Madrid and Catalonia. |
Spain | Pérez, Julián | 1919 (102–103) | Spain | Unified Socialist Youth
Nationalist Army |
Joined Republican forces in 1936. Captured in 1937 and joined Francoist forces to escape staying at a labor camp. Served as a stretcher bearer. |
Spain | Revesado, Jesús | 1918 (103–104) | Spain | Nationalist Army | Joined at 18 years old. Served in the 13th Battalion. Lives in Salamanca. |