RALPH Prothero (Letters, September 5) doesn't seem to know much about the Spanish Civil War.
The International Brigades fought to support the legally elected socialist Spanish government that a coup by right-wing fascist members of the army was trying to overthrow, as did many other socialist movements.
True many of the members may have been communist but at that time they were the only ones seeming to try to stand up against fascism.
By no means were they the army of the Communist International.
Russia did support the Spanish government but it cost the Spaniards dear.
Remember also that the coup plotters and their leader Franco were supported by Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy, hardly strong supporters of democracy.
Hitler found the battles in Spain a good proving ground for the weapons he used against this country shortly after in Second World War.
R E THOMAS, Southampton
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