Galactic Brigades

[TopperHenly]

I am currently reading a non fiction WW2 book and it was mentioned that one of the real life individuals detailed in the book had fought in the International Brigades during the Spanish Civil war of the 1930's. I've heard of the Spanish Civil war and of non Spaniards fighting for both sides for idealogical reasons rather than for financial gain but it never really gripped me enough as a historical subject to find more about. However, at this moment, it has intrigued me in relation to DS9.

In a way, the Maquis sounds like it could have parallels with the Spanish Civil war as it involved Federation citizens, including Vulcans IIRC, that had no direct connection to the Federation colonies in the disputed areas. I wonder though would non Bajorans have been involved in Cardassian occupation of Bajor and would have been drawn to the conflict of the brutal occupation of a peaceful and religious people?

 

[Bry_Sinclair]

I wouldn't be surprised if there had been some who snuck onto Bajor in order to help them, whether directly fighting against the Cardassians, bringing supplies, or providing humanitarian aid. It would've been an interesting topic to have touched on.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

And even though the Prime Directive prohibited the Federation from interfering directly, I wouldn't be at all surprised if they managed to sneak some of their personnel onto Bajor or Terok Nor (or both) to covertly help the Bajorans in their struggle.

 

[TopperHenly]

Thanks for replying.

Firstly, the book I am currently reading it about the French resistance during WW2 and bizarrely after I had posted this comment, the book touched upon the Maquis, a resistance group who had formed and fought in the mountain regions of France. On doing on an internet search, there was also a similar name for mountain fighters in the Spanish Civil war.

The thought occurred to me that in the Star Trek universe, Federation citizens were free from internal strife and didn't have financial or any other constraints placed on them. Would there be a possibility that for the more moral minded citizens, rather than joining Starfleet, they would get involved in the internal politics and military conflicts of non-Federation societies much like these International Brigades of the Spanish Civil war period?

If so, one of the complaints of say for instance the Romulans and Cardassians against the Federation is that they can't keep their citizens from poking their noses into the affairs of other planets that is not their concern?