Remembering The Chinese Volunteers in The Spanish Civil War

Old soldiers never die, they say – they live on in the memory of nations, in the silent resilience of monuments, and in the stories that still carry meaning across borders.

This summer, the Jintai Art Museum in Beijing opened a special two-week exhibition to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. The exhibition, aptly titled “Learning from History for Lasting Peace; Advancing Together for a Shared Future”, brings together art, history, and memory in ways that remind us that peace is never an accident. It is the fruit of solidarity, sacrifice, and international vision.

On display are more than 30 sculptures by the renowned artist Mr. Yuan Xikun, including the moving work Spanish International Brigade Fighters and Friendship in the Flames of War. Accompanying them are 51 historic photographs documenting the encounters between Spanish volunteers and Chinese comrades-in-arms. Visitors are invited not just to view art, but to touch the weight of history: to recall China’s immense sacrifices in defense of world peace, and to honor the international alliances that once stood against fascism.

Among the stories recalled is that of Xie Weijin (1899–1978), a Chinese officer who volunteered to join the International Brigades in Spain under the alias Lin Jishi. In 1937, Xie traveled to Albacete, enlisted under the number 83492, and fought bravely at Quinto and the Ebro River. He was wounded, endured internment in French camps, and eventually returned to China, where he continued his fight against fascism. His personal journey, stretching from the battlefields of Spain to the resistance in China, embodies a spirit of transnational courage, the idea that justice is not confined to borders.

The exhibition also features research materials compiled by Chinese and overseas scholars, including precious photographs donated by Xie’s descendants. His descendent, Mr. Xie Zhengxue, chose to share them freely so that this history might be preserved and so the internationalist spirit might continue to inspire future generations.

Eighty years after the victory of 1945, the world is once again at a crossroads. Wars rage, mistrust deepens, and the language of division too often overwhelms the language of peace. Yet history offers us both warning and hope. The victory of the anti-fascist struggle was not solely China’s triumph, nor Spain’s, nor Russia’s, nor America’s; it was the shared achievement of all peoples who resisted tyranny and fought for a common humanity. It proved that even in the darkest hours, cooperation among nations could prevail over brutality and fear.

For China, the victory was both a rebirth from suffering and a contribution to global peace. But the lesson transcends national pride. The story of Xie Weijin, of the International Brigades, of the millions who fought and died, tells us something urgent today: the defense of justice requires courage, solidarity, and a belief that the fate of nations is interwoven.

At this anniversary, we are called not only to remember but also to act. To see beyond narrow interests, to reject the temptation of violence, and to work toward a world where diversity is a strength, not a threat. If history is a mirror, let it show us the courage of those who dared to fight together for peace, and the responsibility we inherit to carry their vision forward.

Peace is fragile, but not unattainable. Eight decades ago, ordinary men and women proved that internationalism was more than an ideal: it was a living, breathing force. Today, it must be so again.

__________________________________________

About the author: Chunwei Song is a professor of mathematics at Peking University in Beijing, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chunwei_Song .