New publication covering SCI activities in Spain

by Heinz Gabathuler (Jun 9, 2013)

SCI's contribution to humanitarian relief during and after the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) remains an interesting field for academic research in SCI International Archives.

British historian Gabriel Pretus lately published his thesis covering different approaches to humanitarian aid during the Civil War in Spain.

SCI's activities focused on relief for children - the evacuation . They mainly involved Swiss volunteers, and were supported by the British SCI friends from IVSP. SCI also played an important role in the context of the "Swiss Committee to Aid Spanish Children", together with other NGOs of different religious and / or political orientation. The evacuation of children from besieged Madrid in 1937 is remarkable as the first SCI activity taking place in the midst of a war - as normally SCI's focus is on civilian intervention in post-conflict areas.

The author had visited SCI International Archives several times for his research. His conclusion about SCI's approach is that unlike other relief organisations with a more openly demonstrated sympathy for the Republican side, SCI remained strictly "non partisan". This was also due to the need to co-operate with the Swiss authorities.

Book reference

Gabriel Pretus: Humanitarian Relief in the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939). The Edwin Mellen Press, Lewiston (NY), 2013, ISBN-10: 0-7734-4529-3, SCI IA 11121.06