Into the Fire: American Women in the Spanish Civil War Backdrop Blur
Into the Fire: American Women in the Spanish Civil War Poster

Into the Fire: American Women in the Spanish Civil War

In 1936, a right-wing military coup tried to overthrow the new, legally elected, democratic government of Spain. Hitler and Mussolini quickly joined the fight on the side of the fascist military. In response, and against the wishes of the U.S. government, about 80 American women joined over 2700 of their countrymen to volunteer for the Republican side in the Spanish Civil War. This film is composed of interviews with and excerpts from the letters, journals, and published writings of some of these women, as well as of supporters and sympathizers including Martha Gellhorn, Eleanor Roosevelt, Virginia Cowles, Josephine Herbst, and Dorothy Parker.

Top Cast

  • Martha Gellhorn

    Martha Gellhorn

    Self

  • Evelyn Hutchins

    Evelyn Hutchins

    Self

  • Esther Silverstein Blanc

    Esther Silverstein Blanc

    Self

  • Ruth Davidow

    Ruth Davidow

    Self

  • Helen Freeman Feinberg

    Helen Freeman Feinberg

    Self

  • Salaria Kea O'Reilly

    Salaria Kea O'Reilly

    Self

  • Celia Greenspan Seborer

    Celia Greenspan Seborer

    Self

  • Irene Goldin Speigel

    Irene Goldin Speigel

    Self

  • Victoria Ryan

    Victoria Ryan

    Virginia Coweles (Voice)

Overview

In 1936, a right-wing military coup tried to overthrow the new, legally elected, democratic government of Spain. Hitler and Mussolini quickly joined the fight on the side of the fascist military. In response, and against the wishes of the U.S. government, about 80 American women joined over 2700 of their countrymen to volunteer for the Republican side in the Spanish Civil War. This film is composed of interviews with and excerpts from the letters, journals, and published writings of some of these women, as well as of supporters and sympathizers including Martha Gellhorn, Eleanor Roosevelt, Virginia Cowles, Josephine Herbst, and Dorothy Parker.

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