 Among his compatriots and fellow brigadiers, he was later nicknamed "Španac" (El Espanol) for this time spent in struggle with the Spanish people with whom he had developed a tremendous affinity.He was one of the few remaining International Brigades volunteers who fled over the frontier to France, only to be interned by the Gestapo as an "enemy alien" following the Nazi invasion.It is believed that along with others he affected an escape via Marseilles, and walked much of the way home after landing in Italy.