500 disappeared Spanish Civil War international brigades soldiers identified

Five different published studies have allowed the Catalan government to identify 522 soldiers of the international brigades who disappeared during the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939).

These soldiers were part of the Republican army fighting against Francisco Franco's army and had traveled from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Ireland. 48 soldiers from different nationalities have also been identified.

The different reports examine each country individually, and the fifth focuses on those fighters who disappeared during the Ebre river battle, one for each country and an extra one about disappeared fighters in the Battle of the Ebre, the longest, largest and bloodiest confrontation of the Spanish Civil War.

The battle took place in early 1938, and according to the new reports, 286 United States soldiers, 96 Canadians, and 6 Irish disappeared during the events.

A considerable number of these names were already registered in the Catalan government database of the "Human Cost" of the Civil War or the database of "Mass Graves from Civil War and Franco dictatorship," but there was a lack of information on some combatants and some mistakes in the names. 

In addition, the new reports reveal new information about where they fought or where they disappeared.

The investigations are part of the Catalan government's program"Alvah Bessie," which is focused on promoting research about international brigadiers who disappeared in Catalonia. Last year, it published some reports about fighters from Germany, Austria, and the Netherlands.

So far, the Catalan government has identified 800 international fighters.

The Spanish Civil War began in July 1936 and ended in April 1939. It is estimated that more than 35,000 international brigaders participated.