« Swiss Ambulance »

Solidarity with the Republic began from the first moments of the conflict. In Geneva, the Samaritan Workers, a medical organization founded by Dr. Roger Fischer (1902-1974) in 1932 and with links to the Communist Party, began to work for a combined effort. This led to the creation of Committee for Aid to the Spanish People which brought together the different currents of the labour movement in Geneva. Among those involved were the Socialist, André Oltramare (1884-1947), who had started the Friends of Republican Spain in September, Luigi Bertoni (1872-1848), editor of Réveil anarchiste and Lucien Tronchet (1902-1982), the leader of the Geneva branch of the Federation of Wood and Construction Workers. 

After the Swiss authorities prohibited the sending of military support to eiteh side in Spain and obstructed Swiss volunteers from enlisting in mid-August, solidarity focussed on humanitarian assistance: food, clothing, medical supplies and equipment, although the transport of volunteers and armaments continued clandestinely, mostly through Communist and anarchist networks. 

The collection of funds organized by the Friends of the Spanish Republic, the Swiss Federation of Samaritan Workers and Swiss union organizations made it possible to purchase a mobile operating theatre that came to be known as the « Swiss Ambulance ». It was staffed by a group of doctors and nurses who were members of the Samaritan Workers of Geneva, including some who were recruited especially for these missions. The Ambulance left Geneva on October 21 and arrived in Barcelona a week later. There,as shown in the photograph, it was adorned with flags of the libertarian organizations and put on display in front of the offices of the regional committee of the CNT in Durruti Street (today # 32 Laietana Avenue), before being transported to the Huesca front. 

Although it was authorized by the Swiss government to carry out humanitarian action, it also intervened directly to treat Republican combattants, thus going beyond the limits of the « strict neutrality » that had been imposed on it. According to a number of Swiss volunteers, it was interated into the CNT’s Ascaso division. This prompted an investigation by the Federal police in February 1937, although nothing ever came of it. After the militias were dismantled, the Swiss Ambulance continued to operate as part of the International Brigades, then in the 45 Division of the Popular Army.