Irish Brigade (Spanish Civil War)

Irish Brigade
The St. Patrick's Saltire flag of the Irish Brigade.
Active	1936–1937
Country	Irish Free State
Allegiance	Nationalist Spain
Type	Infantry
Size	700 troops
Garrison/HQ	Cáceres, Spain
Nickname(s)	Blueshirts
Engagements	Spanish Civil War Battle of Jarama
Commanders
Notable commanders	Eoin O'Duffy
Insignia
Badge of the Irish Brigade

The Irish Brigade (Spanish: Brigada Irlandesa, "Irish Brigade" Irish: Briogáid na hÉireann) fought on the Nationalist side of Francisco Franco during the Spanish Civil War. The unit was formed wholly of Roman Catholics by the politician Eoin O'Duffy, who had previously organised the banned quasi-fascist Blueshirts and openly fascist Greenshirts in Ireland. Despite the declaration by the Irish government that participation in the war was unwelcome and ill-advised, 700 of O'Duffy's followers went to Spain. They saw their primary role in Spain as fighting for the Roman Catholic Church against the Red Terror of Spanish anticlericalists. They also saw many religious and historical parallels in the two nations, and hoped to prevent communism gaining ground in Spain.