Introduction

Raanan Rein and Susanne Zepp

The Spanish Civil War is still a source of heated debate in present-day Spain. Many Spaniards refer to “el pasado que no pasa” (the past that does not go away). The Spanish Civil War also remains a major point of reference in political battles around the world, especially in Western societies that seem more divided and polarized than ever since the end of World War II. In October 2022, fve decades after the death of General Franco and three years after the Spanish dictator’s remains were removed from the Valle de los Caídos mausoleum outside Madrid, Spain’s senate approved legislation intended to bring “justice, reparation and dignity” to the victims of the civil war and subsequent dictatorship.[1] The Democratic Memory Law, promoted by the socialist-led government, won 128 votes in favor, but 113 members voted against and 18 abstained.

The legislation, which had been approved by Spain’s congress in July 2022, contains dozens of measures intended to help “settle Spanish democracy’s debt to its past.”[2] Among them are the creation of a census and a national DNA bank to help locate and identify the remains of the tens of thousands of people who still lie in unmarked graves, a ban on groups that glorify the Franco regime, and a “redefnition” of the Valley of the Fallen, the giant basilica and memorial where Franco lay for forty-four years until his exhumation in 2019.

The new law builds on the 2007 historical memory legislation introduced under another socialist prime minister, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, which was resisted by Spain’s conservative People’s Party (PP). Many on the Spanish right have opposed legislative eforts to revisit the past, saying that they risked undermining the 1977 amnesty law and the so-called Pact of Forgetting that helped to usher Spain back to democracy after Franco’s death.

In 2018, the government of Aragón, led by its socialist president Javier Lambán, decided to build the frst civil war museum in Spain. (By now, we have a virtual museum of the war, started by our Canadian colleagues Adrian Shubert and Antonio Cazorla Sánchez.) This museum was to be built in Teruel and to include a memorial to victims of the war:

un memorial con los nombres de todas las víctimas de la guerra, sin distinción alguna entre los componentes de ambos frentes. La fuerza

del mensaje de esta instalación consiste precisamente en no ahondar en las diferencias entre los bandos, sino en mezclar los nombres de los muertos de una forma en que nunca hubiera sido posible en vida. (A memorial with the names of all the victims of the war, without any distinction between the components of both fronts. The strength of the message of this installation consists precisely in not delving into the diferences between the sides but in mixing the names of the dead in a way that would never have been possible during their lifetime.)[3]

It is no wonder that the idea of mixing the names of the dead rebels with the names of those who died defending democracy provoked a war of words. It seemed like a similar idea to the one promoted by Francoism beginning in the 1950s. The argument against it is that “[n]o distinguir entre víctimas es declarar que la responsabilidad es de todos y, por tanto, nadie tiene la responsabilidad. Porque fue una guerra entre hermanos” (not to distinguish between victims is to declare that the responsibility is everyone’s, and therefore, no one is responsible, because it was a war between brothers).[4]

Instead of leveling the experiences of the Spanish Civil War, our project favors a diferentiation of historical experiences by acknowledging and addressing diverse narratives and grievances. This volume presents the fndings of our joint German Research Foundation (DFG) project, “Untold Stories of the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939): A Re-Examination of Both Jewish and Women’s Historical Experiences.” The chapters in this volume aim to shed light on the lesser-known narratives and perspectives of individuals whose stories have remained unexplored and underrepresented in the context of the Spanish Civil War. Our project’s title pays homage to Maya Angelou’s powerful quote, “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” We frmly believe that within the realm of historical research, it is our responsibility to uncover and share narratives that have been marginalized or forgotten. While we emphasize the recognition of untold stories, it is important to acknowledge that the Spanish Civil War has indeed been thoroughly researched by numerous scholars. Our project’s objective was not to suggest that existing research is insufcient or inadequate; rather, our goal is to contribute to a more inclusive and comprehensive understanding of this historical period. The Spanish Civil War has been the subject of extensive scholarly inquiry, and signifcant advancements have been made in uncovering and analyzing its political, social, and cultural dimensions.

By focusing on the experiences of women who participated as volunteers in the International Brigades and the specifc challenges faced by Jewish individuals and communities during the Spanish Civil War, our volume seeks to enrich the existing research landscape. We believe that multiple perspectives are essential for our understanding of historical events, and our aim is to shed light on the stories and experiences that have remained marginalized or overlooked. In doing so, we build upon existing scholarship by ofering a more inclusive and nuanced perspective.

While non-Spanish scholars took the lead from the 1950s through the 1980s, in the post-Francoist years, a younger generation of Spanish scholars has contributed enormously to this constantly growing historiography, especially with local and regional studies. In the overall picture of European history, the Spanish Civil War was a landmark, a preparatory war in which Hitler and Mussolini on Franco’s side and Stalin on the other side were testing out strategies and weapon systems. The liberal democracies of France and Great Britain practiced a policy of non-interference and thus facilitated the victory of the insurgents. The Soviet Union provided the republic with weapons and advisers until 1938. Spain, which had previously been on the periphery, became a military and political center in the clash of systems in Europe during the civil war. Politically motivated anti-fascist intellectuals from all over the world set of for Spain to fght against fascism.

The history of the International Brigades, the combat units of volunteers from more than ffty nations involved in the Spanish Civil War, has become a theme of interwar European history enshrouded in myth. Almost from the very beginning, these units have provided material for literary adaptations, and after World War II, they became the object of dispute in the ideologically charged debates of the Cold War, in which the volunteers were romanticized as heroic fghters for humanity, on the one hand, and demonized as agents of international communism, on the other hand. But the International Brigades already began provoking heated debate in all Western countries during the war. Liberal and left-wing public opinion mobilized on behalf of the Second Spanish Republic and the values it supposedly represented: democracy, progress, and social justice. At the same time, conservative and right-wing forces expressed their sympathy for the “anti-Communist crusade” of the Nationalist rebels headed by General Francisco Franco.

Support of the republic manifested in campaigns to raise money, food, and medicine to help it in its hour of need. At the same time, tens of thousands of young people around the world ofered their assistance by choosing to travel to the Iberian Peninsula and defend the republic in the Spanish trenches. Figures for the total number of volunteers range from 35,000 to 60,000, with recent studies pointing to the lower fgure.

However, there are still signifcant desiderata in this complex feld of research, which we have addressed in our project: neither the Jewish chapters of the International Brigades nor women’s contributions have been comprehensively and adequately addressed thus far. This lacuna is rooted in a theoretical paradox, which is that post-essentialist attempts at historiography are less likely to examine the diferences in historical experience. Instead of focusing on women, for example, gender history asks specifcally about social relations, power structures, the construction of “women” and “men,” and the naturalization and stabilization of gender-coded binaries. This conscious move away from “women” and from the apparent evidence of their experiences—in other words, parameters that women’s history delberately made use of—meant a fundamental methodological reorientation. Gender history is perceived as more inclusive, since it also includes men and expands the subject area of research. During our project, we decided to distinguish between diferent historical experiences and separate particular perspectives so as not to sacrifce the unique critical potential of exploring diverse viewpoints. This certainly did not mean a restoration of essentialist notions of identity. Rather, we discussed post-essentialist methodological insights for women’s history and Jewish history in order to develop a perspective that does not see these considerations as stages of a continuum but instead elucidates the nature of the challenges they pose to those writing history.

Despite their immense contributions and sacrifces, women who actively participated in the Spanish Civil War as volunteers in the International Brigades have largely been overlooked, overshadowed by other, more dominant historical narratives. We consider it our duty to acknowledge and bring these narratives to the forefront, providing a more comprehensive understanding of the complexities and diversity of the International Brigades during the Spanish Civil War.

Furthermore, we are interested in the intersection of Jewish history and the Spanish Civil War, exploring the experiences of Jewish individuals and communities during this tumultuous period. By examining the challenges faced by Jews and their active involvement in the confict on the side of the Spanish Republic, we aim to contribute to a more nuanced understanding of this historical period. Through this edited volume, we amplify these untold stories, providing a platform for diverse voices and shedding light on the experiences of women and Jewish individuals that might otherwise face historical erasure.

While research literature on the Spanish Civil War, and especially the International Brigades, is already vast, we hope that each chapter in this volume will make evident the important, if narrow, gap in the literature it flls. The “untold stories” relayed here follow the experiences of lesser-known volunteers from places like Palestine and make important conceptual interventions in research on volunteerism and “post-essentialist” methodology.

Chapter 1, by Nir Arielli (The University of Leeds), explores signifcant developments and new trends in the historiography regarding foreign volunteering, particularly in the context of conficts and wars. Scholars have shown increasing interest in exploring and re-evaluating the motivations, experiences, and impact of individuals who chose to volunteer in foreign conficts, shedding light on previously overlooked issues and challenging conventional narratives. Arielli demonstrates the need for transnational and comparative approaches to examine foreign volunteering across diferent conficts and regions. This allows for a broader understanding of the phenomenon by considering similarities, diferences, and interconnectedness between various volunteer movements. Arielli also shows how, instead of viewing volunteers as mere instruments of larger geopolitical forces, historians have aimed in recent years to understand the personal motivations, aspirations, and factors that led volunteers to participate. This chapter also explains that scholars are more attentive to the gendered experiences of foreign volunteers. This attention includes examining the participation of women in conficts, their roles, and the specifc challenges they faced. Overall, the new trends in the historiography regarding foreign volunteering refect a shift toward a more inclusive, nuanced, and interdisciplinary approach. By considering individual agency, gender dynamics, transnational connections, memory, and legacies, historians are expanding our understanding of the motivations, experiences, and infuence of those who volunteered in foreign conficts. Arielli argues that these developments contribute to a more extensive and diverse narrative of this signifcant aspect of historical engagement.

Susanne Zepp (Universität Duisburg-Essen) goes on to examine an anonymous source from the archives of the Institute for Marxism-Leninism at the Central Committee of the Socialist Unity Party of East Germany, which today are in the holdings of the Federal Archives in Berlin-Lichterfelde (=SAPMO archive). Professor Hans Teubner, who had been active in the International Brigades as well, was responsible for the GDR archive. As the coordinator of the History Department, Teubner safeguarded all the material that was sent to him. Among these papers is a text of just less than forty pages by an anonymous French author titled “Madrid lies close to Berlin.” This chapter problematizes the use of anonymous sources for research on the Spanish Civil War. While such sources can provide valuable insights and frsthand accounts, their use also raises methodological concerns that must be carefully considered. Zepp discusses the difculty in verifying the credibility and authenticity of the anonymous text while acknowledging that anonymous sources can provide valuable insights into the Spanish Civil War. Zepp demonstrates how the anonymous text she encountered in the SAPMO archive is informed by the agenda of the German Popular Front in Exile and their radio station, Deutscher Freiheitssender 29.8. An examination of this text shows that Teubner preserved a repressed memory of the civil war in the party archives of the Socialist Unity Party, namely the activities of International Brigades members beyond the Communist Party.

Raanan Rein (Tel Aviv University) focuses on Jewish women who fought for social justice on both sides of the Mediterranean. His chapter examines the experiences and contributions of Jewish women activists in diferent contexts, shedding light on their roles in promoting social change and advocating for equality. Rein’s research encompasses diferent historical periods and geographical locations, allowing for a comprehensive understanding of Jewish women’s agency and impact. Rein’s research explores Jewish women’s activism during the early twentieth century in Palestine and also focuses on the involvement of Jewish women in the International Brigades. By examining the roles of Jewish women in the labor movement, women’s organizations, and other social justice initiatives, Rein demonstrates how Jewish women challenged traditional gender norms and played signifcant roles in shaping the social and political landscape of the countries of their involvement. By highlighting the interconnectedness of Jewish women’s activism across the Mediterranean, Rein emphasizes the transnational dimensions of their work and the shared challenges they faced.

In Chapter 4, Omri Elmaleh (Brown University) focuses on Arab volunteers from Palestine in the Spanish Civil War, examining their motivations, experiences, and contributions to the confict. Through his work, Elmaleh sheds light on their political, ideological, and personal reasons for action. By analyzing the broader historical context and the infuence of global events, Elmaleh provides insights into what drove Arabs of the Palestine Communist Party to volunteer. Elmaleh also explores their experiences while in Spain. He examines their interactions with other international volunteers, their roles in various factions and brigades, and the challenges they faced on the battlefeld. By studying personal testimonies, letters, and archival sources, Elmaleh ofers a nuanced picture of the experiences of Arab volunteers, their struggles, and their contributions to the wider war efort. This chapter also explores the efect of the confict on Arab societies, including its infuence on political ideologies, national identities, and anti-colonial struggles in the region.

Tamar Groves (Extremadura University), Jorge Cáceres-Muñoz (Extremadura University), and Mariano González-Delgado (La Laguna University) in Chapter 5 focus on progressive education on the eve of the Spanish Civil War, exploring the continuities and ruptures in this educational approach during a critical historical period. By examining the evolution and impact of progressive education in Spain, the authors shed light on the ways in which educational philosophies and practices were shaped and infuenced by Spanish society leading up to the civil war. This chapter delves into the continuities within the educational system, highlighting the ideas and principles that persisted despite the growing tensions and impending confict in Spain. The authors investigate how progressive educators continued to advocate for student-centered learning, experiential education, and the promotion of social justice and equality even in bourgeois contexts. By examining the work of prominent educators and educational institutions, they demonstrate how progressive educational theories and practices remained infuential and relevant even after the Nationalists’ victory.

In Chapter 6, Lena Hein (Freie Universität Berlin) analyzes the writings of German-Jewish author Ruth Rewald (1906–1942) and her social engagement in the Spanish Civil War. Rewald’s novel, Vier spanische Jungen, is one of the few examples of German children’s and youth’s literature about the Spanish Civil War. This chapter reminds us of Rewald’s volunteer work at the Ernst Thälmann children’s home outside of Madrid, founded by the International Brigades, and argues that Rewald adapted the testimonies of the children she met as material for her novel, attempting to capture the experiences, emotions, and perspectives of children who lived through traumatic events during the Spanish Civil War and to present them in a way that is accessible, relatable, and age-appropriate. In a careful close reading, Hein demonstrates the degree to which Rewald strove to capture the authenticity of the children’s voices and experiences and how carefully she chose language and narrative techniques to be suitable for the target age group. The fctional characters based on real-life individuals or composite characters embody the collective experiences of children during the Spanish Civil War. By presenting the children’s testimonies in a compelling and sensitive manner, Hein argues, Rewald wanted to help her readers develop a deeper understanding of the experiences of Spanish children of working-class families and foster empathy toward those who have lived through difcult circumstances.

Dror Sharon (Tel Aviv University) tells the story of the North Stoneham Basque Children’s Camp, which was established in 1937 to care for the children of Basque refugees from the Spanish Civil War. In May 1937, over 3,000 refugee children arrived in Britain and were taken to the North Stoneham Camp, which had been swiftly erected by volunteers to receive them. The camp was intended as a short-term measure, and following the children’s adoption by host families, it closed down in September 1937. This chapter sheds light on the unique challenges and experiences children faced while living in the camp and ofers insight into their psychological, social, and emotional well-being as well as their educational and developmental needs. Sharon discusses how children in North Stoneham were exposed to intense ideological debates and exposes the often-dangerous politicization of the camp that led to the indoctrination of children by adults seeking to infuence their beliefs and opinions. Sharon argues that while de-politicization may sound like a desirable goal, it also runs the risk of causing a lack of awareness and understanding about important issues. When children are kept isolated from political discourse, they may become more susceptible to manipulation and exploitation by those with vested interests. Children have the capacity to engage in political and social issues that directly afect them. De- politicization can silence their voices and hinder their ability to advocate for their rights, express their opinions, and infuence policies that shape their lives.

Chapter 8, by Rosalie Sitman (Tel Aviv University), ofers a close reading of two key texts by the Jewish-Argentine writer and editor Samuel Glusberg. This chapter demonstrates that solidarity in Latin America with the Republican cause was not limited to Spanish nationals but extended to members of other immigrant groups, especially those who feared for their fate under other authoritarian or totalitarian regimes. Sitman argues that the republic’s democratic and inclusive ideals provided an opportunity for Glusberg to fnd symbolic refuge and protection. Glusberg had experienced political persecution, economic hardships, and social inequality, and he saw the Second Spanish Republic as a beacon of hope and progress. Supporting the republic meant for Glusberg standing in solidarity with a shared struggle for social justice and equal rights. Glusberg felt a sense of camaraderie and shared identity with those fghting for the republic, as he saw himself as part of an international community united against oppression.

In Chapter 9, Michael Hahn (Freie Universität Berlin) explores the writings of the theater director, writer, and critic Cipriano de Rivas Cherif (1891–1967) during the Spanish Civil War. Hahn focuses on Cipriano de Rivas Cherif’s activities as a diplomat in the service of the Second Spanish Republic: he served as Consul General and Secretary of the Spanish Delegation to the League of Nations in Geneva (September 1936–May 1938). This chapter argues that the Spanish Civil War and its end were a drastic failure in diplomacy, which Hahn attributes not only to the non-intervention policy of major powers, the absence of active mediation eforts, fragmented international support, and the harsh ideological divisions the war created by proxy but also to the inefective role of the League of Nations. Hahn scrutinizes how Cipriano de Rivas Cherif, who was one of the founding fgures of modern Spanish theater, played a less fortunate role in the League of Nations and could not change its lack of enforcement mechanisms and the internal divisions that limited its ability to address the confict adequately. The failure of the League of Nations to play a meaningful role in resolving the war further highlighted the limitations of diplomacy during this historical period. This chapter examines the two-act play ¿Qué quiere decir Irene? (What does Irene mean?, 1941), frst published in 2013 and performed as a staged reading in Madrid in 2019, as the work that most poignantly refects Rivas Cherif’s experience in the League of Nations.

Shai Efrat (The Hebrew University of Jerusalem) explores in Chapter 10 how famenco, a Spanish art form that encompasses music, dance, and poetry, took on a signifcant role as a form of political protest in 1930s Spain. This chapter demonstrates that famenco songs often contained lyrics refecting the social and political climate of the era. Artists used their poetic and musical abilities to convey the struggles of the working class, the plight of the poor, and the injustices faced by marginalized communities. Through their lyrics, famenco singers expressed dissent and raised awareness about societal issues. Flamenco, originating primarily from Andalusia, was closely associated with the gitano community, which faced marginalization and discrimination. Gitano artists used famenco as a platform to shed light on their plight and the challenges they faced. Their performances often served as a protest against societal prejudices and the oppression they experienced. This chapter is also interested in how famenco dance performance itself, with its intricate footwork, movements, and emotional intensity, allowed artists to express their discontent and resistance. Through powerful choreography and gestures, dancers communicated themes of struggle, defance, and resilience, creating a visual representation of political protest. Efrat explains that famenco gatherings were spaces where people came together to share music, dance, and poetry. These gatherings served as platforms for the expression of dissenting views. Artists and attendees used famenco as a means to discuss political ideas, to question societal norms, and to foster a sense of solidarity among those who felt marginalized. Through metaphorical and allegorical lyrics, famenco artists conveyed their messages in a way that could be understood by those familiar with the artform.

Catarina von Wedemeyer (Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena) ofers a comparative reading of the diferent conceptions of anarchism by Emma Goldman (1869–1940) and Federica Montseny (1905–1994) during the Spanish Civil War. The two women had been in touch since 1928. However, Wedemeyer argues that they disagreed on too many issues to establish a friendship. One of these disagreements was the ideological impossibility of political collaboration: Goldman condemned Montseny for serving as Minister of Health in the Republican government (November 1936–May 1937), while Montseny denounced Goldman for being too detached from the reality of the Spanish Civil War. This chapter ofers new insights on Goldman’s and Montseny’s views on anarchist arguments, such as their takes on feminism and carceral abolitionism or on the militarization of the formerly pacifst anarchist movement during the Spanish Civil War.

In Chapter 12, Gabriela Jonas Aharoni (Sapir College) analyzes the 2019 documentary Milicianas by flmmakers Tania Balló, Gonzalo Berger, and Jaume Miró. Based on a historical photograph, the documentary calls attention to the execution of fve volunteer nurses from the Red Cross on the island of Mallorca. Jonas Aharoni argues that the documentary utilizes methods of historical research to ensure accuracy, credibility, and a responsible portrayal of the historical events. This chapter focuses on the methods of research and storytelling the flmmakers used and the challenges of reconstructing historical events and identities in the context of an enforced suppression of collective memory. Jonas Aharoni reminds us of the social, political, economic, and cultural factors that shaped the events depicted in the flm. This contextual understanding of the ambiguities of seeing women in arms during the Spanish Civil War enables the documentary to provide a more nuanced and comprehensive portrayal of the historical period.

Esra Akkaya (Freie Universität Berlin) explores Turkish voices of solidarity with the Republican cause during the Spanish Civil War in the poems of Nazim Hikmet and Beki L. Bahar (Chapter 13). While the Turkish government adopted the principle of non-intervention due to its focus on domestic stability, geopolitical considerations, and pragmatic diplomatic calculations, Akkaya locates a poetic solidarity within the Turkish left: Nazim Hikmet (1902–1963), considered one of the most signifcant Turkish poets of the twentieth century, was a Marxist and an ardent advocate of social justice. The Spanish Civil War inspired him to write several poems that expressed solidarity with the Republican cause and condemned the rise of fascism. Beki L. Bahar (1926–2011) was also infuenced by the Spanish Civil War. In her poems, she drew parallels between the struggles of the Spanish Republicans and the working class in Turkey. Her poetry emphasized the need for social equality and the fght against oppressive regimes. The poems of both Hikmet and Bahar raised awareness among the Turkish public about the larger implications of the Spanish Civil War and articulated its impact on their own political beliefs and aspirations, all while contributing to the broader intellectual and cultural movements in Turkey.

In the fnal chapter, Michael Petrou (Canadian War Museum) explains the policy of recruiting Canadian Spanish Civil War veterans by the British Special Operations Executive (SOE) during World War II. This chapter sheds light on the connections between these two historical events. Many Canadians, motivated by their beliefs in anti-fascism and social justice, joined the Spanish Civil War as volunteers on the Republican side. After the brigades were formally withdrawn from Spain late in 1938, the civil war veterans possessed unique skills, combat experience, and knowledge of warfare that made them valuable assets during World War II. Petrou researches the recruitment of Canadian veterans and elucidates how these individuals were identifed, elected, and utilized on the basis of their previous combat experience and ideological commitment. In examining the recruitment process, this chapter sheds light on the existence of transnational networks and alliances during this historical period. It highlights the connections between diferent anti- fascist movements, organizations, and governments that cooperated in resisting fascism. Understanding these networks helps to clarify the broader dynamics of international cooperation during World War II. The British SOE was responsible for conducting intelligence gathering, sabotage, and subversion activities behind enemy lines. This chapter ofers insights into the strategic value attributed to the veterans’ skills and expertise in conducting covert operations. These insights also allow for the recovery and preservation of individual, heretofore untold stories and experiences.

We are grateful for the invaluable solidarity and the contributions of scholars and researchers who have shared their expertise throughout the duration of our project. We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to Lea Greenberg and Regina Prero for their vital contributions to the realization of this volume. Their dedication and support have been instrumental in bringing this project to fruition, and we are immensely grateful for their eforts. To Lea Greenberg, we extend our deepest appreciation for her meticulous and precise editing of the volume. Her keen eye for detail and linguistic expertise has greatly enhanced the quality of the manuscript. Her commitment to ensuring clarity and coherence throughout the text has been truly remarkable. We are profoundly grateful for Regina Prero’s outstanding support in organizing the project workshops in both Berlin and Tel Aviv. Her unwavering commitment, organizational skills, and attention to detail have been pivotal in the success of these events. Without Regina’s dedication and hard work, the three project workshops would not have been possible. We sincerely appreciate her eforts in facilitating our exchange of ideas and fostering fruitful discussions among participants. We would also like to extend our sincere thanks to all the authors who have contributed their valuable research and insights to the volume. Their scholarship and dedication to uncovering untold stories have enriched our project greatly. The diverse perspectives and interdisciplinary approaches presented in the volume have enhanced our understanding of the Spanish Civil War and its signifcance within the realms of history and literature. Furthermore, we would like to express our gratitude to the German Research Foundation (DFG) for funding this project through the “Initiation of International Collaboration” scheme. The support provided by the DFG has been crucial in realizing our objectives and promoting dialogue between Germany, Israel, and Spain. Their readiness to fund an interdisciplinary project in history and literature allowed the exploration of diverse perspectives in research on the untold stories of the Spanish Civil War.

We are grateful that our volume was accepted by Routledge for publication, as it provides a unique opportunity to contribute to scholarly discourse and ofers the potential for wider dissemination, impact, and engagement with fellow researchers and readers interested in the subject matter.

We hope that this volume will not only serve as an isolated scholarly contribution but also inspire further research and discussions in related felds, as we strive to give voice to those who have long been marginalized or forgotten. Together, we can honor these untold stories, enrich our collective knowledge, and promote a more inclusive understanding of history.

Rather than considering our volume as the fnal word on the subject, it should be seen as a foundation upon which future investigations can be built. Each chapter contributes to a broader understanding of the Spanish Civil War, but it also raises new questions and possibilities for exploration. The stories that have not yet been told are often the ones that challenge dominant narratives, provide diverse perspectives, and ofer a more inclusive understanding of the past. By acknowledging the existence of untold stories, we acknowledge that history is multifaceted and complex and that there are always new angles to explore. International and interdisciplinary dialogue between researchers from diferent backgrounds, disciplines, and perspectives brings fresh insights and approaches to the table. By working together, we were able to pool our resources, expertise, and perspectives to delve into unexplored areas and give voice to those whose stories have been marginalized or overlooked. In this sense, this volume is intended as an invitation for future cooperation and to embark on further research journeys. In this spirit of open inquiry and collective efort, we hope to ensure that untold stories of the Spanish Civil War receive the attention they deserve and contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of this confict.

Raanan Rein and Susanne Zepp Tel Aviv, Berlin, and Essen, June 2023