Winter in Spain

Winter in Spain

The Nationalist aerial bombings during the Spanish Civil War displaced thousands of innocent civilians, creating a massive influx of refugees into the cities, resulting in severe food shortages for residents and refugees. This pamphlet, Winter in Spain, created by the Friends Service Council in England to raise funds for Spain, illustrates the Quakers’ attempt to neutrally alleviate Spanish suffering. They did so by providing essential goods and organizing food distribution canteens for both Republican and Nationalist areas. However, their mission was severely limited by funds. This pamphlet uses the pathos of innocent children to make readers empathize with Spain’s suffering, making them more likely to donate. The pamphlet illustrates their success, “More than 4,000 children are given a hot breakfast,” in order to assure the reader that their money makes a difference and is not wasted. These success claims are juxtaposed with the point that despite the success, there is still “no fuel in Madrid” and more relief could be provided, prompting the reader to donate.

London: Friends Service Council

1938

Ian Wheeler

Pamplet