The International Brigades in the Spanish War ... - The Flag Institute

Fig. 55
Fig. 56
9.2. The Red Three Pointed Star
It is absolutely clear that the Tree-Pointed Star was the
most representative symbol of the International Volunteers.
But, what was its origin?
Some put it in the Paris Commune of 1871 and others
say that the three-pointed star was the symbol of the
“Frente Popular Internacional” (International People’s
Front) and the “Socorro Rojo Internacional” (International
Red Help).
Luigi Longo, one of the IB organisers, in his book
about the International Brigades, identifies the threepointed
star as a distinctive symbol of unity and symbol
of the People’s Front all over the world. Also, momentaneously,
the use of the red flag “without inscriptions
or party symbols” was permitted.
“Para cortar de raiz cualquier motivo de sospecha
o desacuerdo político, se prohibe en las formaciones
militares de los voluntarios internacionales el uso de
cualquier insignia o distintivo de partido, de sindicato
o de cualquier otra organización partidaria. La
bandera española es nuestra bandera oficial, por cuya
victoria combatimos. Por el momento se tolera el uso
de la bandera roja –sin inscripciones o símbolos de
partido- como símbolo de la solidaridad internacional.
Como distintivo particular de los voluntarios y de los
cuerpos internacionales se adopta la estrella de tres
picos, símbolo del frente popular en todos los paises.”
Let’s take an overview on graphical use of this symbol:
As an international army symbol:
57 58
59 60
61
As a symbol for youth and women’s movements
62 63 64
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