Robbie MacDonald looks back at two events from spring 2025…

North West International Brigade Memorial Group (NWIBMG) members have taken part in a number of education events marking anti-fascism before and during the Second World War, timed around this year's 80th anniversary of VE Day, and a concert to raise funds for a new Spanish Civil War memorial in Salford.

In late April, some north-west IBMT members joined an Italian Liberation Day event with other organisations in Greater Manchester. The Eagle Inn in Salford, near Manchester city centre, was the venue. 

Stuart Walsh with screen presentations at the Italian Liberation Day event in the Eagle Inn, Salford.

Stuart Walsh from the north west IBMT group spoke about Clarion Cycle Club and Independent Labour Party (ILP) members from across Britain who joined the International Brigade and travelled to Spain in the 1930s civil war. His speech included tributes and profiles of Clarion cyclists who lost their lives in Spain. He also gave a wider history about the Clarion Club, cycling, sports and political movements in the 1930s, including the Barcelona Olympiad, which was planned as an alternative to the Munich Olympics in Nazi Germany, but never materialised because of the Spanish Civil War. Italians in the International Brigade were also highlighted, many of whom later joined the Italian resistance. Stuart's talk was very informative and emotionally moving.

Other groups involved included the Associazione Nazionale Partigiani d'Italia (ANPI), which originated as an Italian partisans' association but today is a charity that addresses both historic and current affairs, and is open to all who oppose fascism and support democracy. ANPI has branches across the world, including England, Scotland and Ireland, and is expanding in northern England. Other Italian groups there included the INCA-CGIL advice and trade union organisation for Italian workers in the UK, a Catholic workers association and the Partito Democratico political party in Greater Manchester. A Greater Manchester choir, the Open Voices Community Choir, performed songs. 

IBMT members and others at the Patriots & Partisans event in the Working Class Movement Library, Salford. 

Then in May, IBMT members took part in an event called Patriots & Partisans, marking anti-fascist resistance and forces from the 1920s to the 1940s for the 80th anniversary of VE Day. This event was at the Working Class Movement Library in Salford. Organised by the Communist Party in Greater Manchester, a range of organisations took part, including IBMT supporters, the Communist Party, Young Communist League, the James Connolly League and ANPI.

IBMT member Rob Hargreaves spoke about Irish members of the International Brigade in the Connolly Column. Jude Percival of the IBMT and Young Communist League spoke on medical and humanitarian aid from north-west England to Spain during the civil war. Eddy Redmond highlighted the Nazi assault on the USSR. Simone Rossi of ANPI spoke about Italian resistance from the 1920s to '40s, and legacy topics around Italian post-war fascism and democracy. Rob MacDonald chaired the event.

Floral tributes laid at nearby Acton Square, where the new Spanish Civil War memorial will go. 

At the end, floral tributes in memory of all who fought fascism were laid at Acton Square next to the Working Class Movement Library. That is the location earmarked for a future Salford Spanish Civil War memorial.

Chris Hall speaking at 'Songs of Protest and Struggle' concert at Wilbraham St Ninian's Church in Chorlton, Manchester.

Finally, a concert with songs, poetry and readings was held in Chorlton, Manchester, to raise funds for the Salford memorial. Organised by IBMT member and author Chris Hall, it was called 'Songs of Protest and Struggle'. 

The venue was Wilbraham St Ninian's Church in Chorlton, a church that also serves as a venue for the Chorlton Arts Festival. The concert was part of the festival. It was perhaps an unusual experience to witness a Spanish Civil War event in a church environment, including speakers in the pulpit. But the church is an important venue and supportive of the community, IBMT members said.

Performers at 'Songs of Protest and Struggle (clockwise from top left): Michael Burns and Chris Cheale; the MadDonnas; and Alan Percy and Alistair Dodds.

Performances came from Alan Percy and Alistair Dodds, both from the Manchester Radical Tradition folk music network; the MadDonnas and Michael Burns. Alistair Dodds has Basque family links and sang some songs in the Basque language too. 

Hilary Jones, daughter of former British Battalion commander Sam Wild.

Poems and speeches came from IBMT members, including Chris Hall, Hilary Jones and Barrie Eckford, a key member of the Salford memorial campaign. Hilary gave an excellent rendition of the famous Dolores Ibarruri speech in Barcelona.

Barrie Eckford with a maquette of the future Salford memorial to honour local Brigaders.

Barrie spoke about the importance of Spanish Civil War memorials in Britain and financial contributions from organisations and individuals, large and small. 

IBMT member Robert Macdonald looks forward to an event this Saturday (26 April) in Salford to mark 80 years since the defeat of fascism in Italy…

The liberation of Italy during the Second World War and the lives of ordinary Italian people who resisted fascism over many years, despite huge risks and suffering, will be marked at an event in Greater Manchester in late April to celebrate its 80th anniversary.

Various Italian organisations in Greater Manchester are working on the event and encouraging people from all backgrounds to hear about Italy's experiences. It is called Voices of the Resistance: Stories that Shaped Liberation, and will take place this Saturday, April 26, at The Eagle Inn, Collier Street, Salford, at 11.30am.

Every April, the liberation of Italy is marked with a public holiday in Italy and celebrations, called Festa della Liberazione. This reflects historic events in April 1945 when liberation movements in Italy declared a general insurrection against Nazi German forces and remaining Italian fascist garrisons, and began issuing decrees to assume power. Days later, Italian dictator Benito Mussolini was captured while trying to flee Italy and executed.

But liberation came after 20 long years of a brutal fascist dictatorship in Italy, which began with Mussolini’s rise in 1922. The regime tried to crush all opposition, terrorising the Italian people generally and targeting opponents with persecution, violence, imprisonment, torture and death.

Later, Mussolini's regime backed Hitler's Nazi Germany in the Second World War. But as events gradually turned, Italy's fascist regime dismissed Mussolini in 1943 and then declared an armistice with the Allies. However, in turn, Nazi Germany then treated Italy as an enemy nation, with more atrocities and reprisals.

But throughout all the years of suffering under the changing regimes, many ordinary Italians resisted fascism in different ways and contrtibuted to its eventual defeat - men, women and children. Examples included disobedience and defiance in many aspects of life, from workplaces to sport, along with intelligence gathering, sabotage, armed fighting and working with the Allies.

Giulia Sirigu (second from left), one of the event's organisers, speaking at last year's event.

One of the Greater Manchester event organisers is Giulia Sirigu, Secretary of the Manchester chapter of the Italian Partito Democratico political party. She said: “The event on Saturday will reflect on how fascism impacted the lives of ordinary people and how they resisted it. There will be speakers, literature, poetry, videos and songs from the Open Voice Community Choir. Additionally we will draw connections with today’s world and current affairs.

“Everyone is welcome, regardless of whether you have Italian links or not. It is an opportunity to listen, learn and engage with the voices of Italy's past and beyond. This will be a meaningful gathering to celebrate resilience, courage and the spirit of liberation.”

The event is free but booking is required on Eventbrite. There will be pizza provided while drinks will be available to buy

Represenatatives of local groups at Italian Liberation Day in April 2024.

Organisations involved include the Partito Democratico, the INCA UK-CGIL advice organisation, the NDIL CGIL Italian trade union, the Associazione Nazionale Partigiani d'Italia (ANPI) which highlights the Italian resistance; and ACLI, a Christian association of Italian workers.

Also involved is the Open Voice Community Choir and the North-West International Brigade Memorial Group. It highlights Greater Manchester and Lancashire’s links to the Spanish Civil War and volunteer fighters from this region who joined the International Brigade. 

During the 1930s Spanish civil war, anti-fascist volunteers from around the world joined the International Brigade to support the Spanish government against a coup by army general Francisco Franco. Later, Italian volunteers then return to Italy and joined the resistance in Italy including during the Second World War, which ended in 1945.