<p>In late 1936, AS Franco&rsquo;s armies stormed toward Madrid, Stalin famously termed the defence of Spain &ldquo;the common cause of all advanced and progressive mankind.&rdquo; As a German emigrant to Winnipeg, Hans Ibing recognized the importance of the Spanish Civil War to the struggle against worldwide fascism in a way that most people in Canada did not&mdash;joining the International Brigades in their fight to defend the Spanish Republic was his &ldquo;chance to fight Hitler.&rdquo;</p> <p>Drawing on interviews, Ibing&rsquo;s personal papers, and archival material, David Goutor recounts the powerful story of an ordinary man&rsquo;s response to extraordinary times.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>