About 32,000 volunteered to fight Franco dictatorship, including 2,500 men and women from Britain and Ireland About 32,000 volunteered to fight Franco dictatorship, including 2,500 men and women from Britain and Ireland The Spanish government has granted citizenship to 170 descendants of volunteers in the International Brigades in recognition of their fight against fascism during the Franco dictatorship that followed the civil war. An estimated 32,000 volunteers from around the world joined the