Next year marks the 90th anniversary of the Spanish Civil War — a conflict that became a dress rehearsal for the Second World War. Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany used Spain as a testing ground for new weapons and tactics, while the Soviet Union backed the Republic with the aim of consolidating power and suppressing anarchist movements.
Camden has strong connections to this struggle. George Orwell fought with the militias in Spain, an experience that shaped Homage to Catalonia and influenced Animal Farm and 1984. Arthur Koestler, also linked to Camden, was imprisoned during the war and later turned his disillusionment into Darkness at Noon. After Franco’s victory, many Spanish anarchist refugees settled in Camden, with Belsize Park’s Centro Ibérico serving as a hub of culture, politics, and solidarity.
This presentation will explore why the war started, how it unfolded, and how it ended. We will also reflect on its meaning for us today — as both a warning against authoritarianism and a lesson in solidarity. Finally, we will discuss how our community might mark the 90th anniversary in 2026 with talks, events, and activities throughout the year.
Can Yildiz is a Camden Tour Guide, scholar, anarchist and retired mental health social worker.
Donations to Torriano welcomed
