Francisco Franco

Francisco Paulino Hermenegildo Teódulo Franco y Bahamonde Salgado Pardo de Andrade (December 4 1892 – November 20 1975), abbreviated Francisco Franco Bahamonde and sometimes known as Generalísimo Francisco Franco, was Head of State of Spain from 1936 until his death in 1975. Known as el "Caudillo de España", and officially as "Caudillo de España por la gracia de Dios" (The Leader of Spain by the grace of God), he presided over the authoritarian government of the Spanish State following victory in the Spanish Civil War.

Spain under Franco

Spain was bitterly divided and economically ruined as a result of the civil war. In September 1939, World War II broke out in Europe, and although Adolf Hitler met Franco in Hendaye, France (23 October, 1940), to discuss Spanish entry on the side of the Axis, Franco's demands (food, military equipment, Gibraltar, French North Africa, etc.) proved too much and no agreement was reached (Hitler remarked that he'd rather "have two or three teeth pulled out" before trying to negotiate Franco's entry into the war again). Contributing to the disagreement was an ongoing dispute over German mining rights in Spain. Some historians argue that Franco made demands that he knew Hitler would not accede to in order to stay out of the war. Other historians argue that he simply had nothing to offer the Germans. After the collapse of France in June 1940, Spain adopted a pro-Axis non-belligerency stance (e.g. offering Spanish naval facilities to German ships) until returning to complete neutrality in 1943 when the tide of the war had turned decisively against Germany. Franco sent troops (División Azul, or "Blue Division") to fight on the Eastern Front against the Soviet Union. They were "volunteers"; some were crusaders against Communism, some were professionals who were given no choice, and some went just for the pay or to clear their names from former liaisons with the Republic.

Related Topics:
World War II - Adolf Hitler - Hendaye - 23 October - 1940 - Axis - Gibraltar - French North Africa - División Azul - Eastern Front - Soviet Union - Communism

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

With the end of World War II, Franco and Spain were forced to suffer the economic consequences of the isolation imposed on it by nations such as the United Kingdom and the United States. This situation ended in part when, due to Spain's strategic location in light of Cold War tensions, the United States entered into a trade and military alliance with Spain. This historic alliance commenced with U.S. President Eisenhower's visit in 1953. This launched the so-called "Spanish Miracle," which developed Spain from autarky into capitalism. Spain was admitted in the United Nations in 1955. In spite of this opening, Franco almost never left Spain once in power.

Related Topics:
Cold War - United States - President Eisenhower - 1953 - Spanish Miracle - Autarky - Capitalism - United Nations - 1955

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Lacking any strong ideology, Franco initially sought support from National syndicalism (nacionalsindicalismo) and the Catholic Church (nacionalcatolicismo). His coalition ruling single party, the Movimiento Nacional, was so heterogeneous as to barely qualify as a party at all, and certainly not an ideological monolith like the Fascio di Combattimento (Fascist Party) or the ruling block of Antonio Salazar. His Spanish State was chiefly a conservative - even traditionalist - rightist regime, with emphasis on order and stability, rather than a definite political vision.

Related Topics:
National syndicalism - Catholic Church - Movimiento Nacional - Fascist Party - Antonio Salazar

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 1947 Franco proclaimed Spain a monarchy, but did not designate a monarch. This gesture was largely done to appease monarchist factions within the Movimiento. Although a self-proclaimed monarchist himself, Franco had no particular desire for a king. As such, he left the throne vacant, with himself as de facto regent. He wore the uniform of a captain general (a rank traditionally reserved for the King), resided in the Pardo Palace, appropriated the kingly privilege of walking beneath a canopy, and his portrait appeared on most Spanish coins. Indeed, although his formal titles were Jefe del Estado (Chief of State) and Generalísimo de los Ejércitos Españoles (Highest General of the Spanish Armed Forces), he was referred to as por la gracia de Dios, Caudillo de España y de la Cruzada, or "by the grace of God, Caudillo of Spain and of the Crusade" ("by the grace of God" is a technical, legal phrase which indicates sovereign dignity in absolute monarchies, and is only used by monarchs).

Related Topics:
1947 - Monarchy - Monarchist - Regent - Pardo Palace - Canopy - By the grace of God - Monarch

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

During his rule non-Government trade unions and all political opponents right across the spectrum, from communist and anarchist organizations to liberal democrats and nationalists, were suppressed. The usage of Catalan language and the Basque language was limited, and many cultural activities were heavily repressed. In every town there was a constant presence of Guardia Civil, a military police force, who patrolled in pairs with submachine guns, and functioned as his chief means of control. A Freemasonry conspiracy was a constant obsession for him. In popular imagination, he is often remembered as in the black and white images of No-Do newsreels, inaugurating a reservoir, hence his nickname Paco Ranas (Paco - a familiar form of Francisco - "the Frog"), or catching huge fish from the Azor yacht during his holidays.

Related Topics:
Trade union - Communist - Anarchist - Democrats - Catalan language - Basque language - Guardia Civil - Submachine gun - Freemasonry - No-Do - Newsreel - Reservoir - Azor

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Famous quote: "Our regime is based on bayonets and blood, not on hypocritical elections."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 1968, due to the United Nations' pressure on Spain, Franco granted Equatorial Guinea its independence.

Related Topics:
1968 - Equatorial Guinea

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 1969 he designated Prince Juan Carlos de Borbón with the new title of Prince of Spain as his successor. This came as a surprise for the Carlist pretender to the throne, as well as for Juan Carlos's father, Don Juan, the Count of Barcelona, who technically had a superior right to the throne. By 1973 Franco had given up the function of Prime Minister (Presidente del Gobierno), remaining only as head of the country and as commander in chief of the military forces. As his final years progressed tension within the various factions of the Movimiento would consume Spanish political life, as varying groups jockeyed for position to control the country's future.

Related Topics:
1969 - Juan Carlos de Borbón - Carlist - Don Juan, the Count of Barcelona - 1973 - Prime Minister

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Franco died on November 20 1975, on the same date as José Antonio Primo de Rivera, founder of the Falange. It is suspected that the doctors were ordered to keep him barely alive by artificial means until that symbolic date. Franco is buried at Santa Cruz del Valle de los Caídos, a site he forced prisoners of the Spanish Civil War to build as the tomb of el Ausente. Later, the Spanish Government of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero decided (2005) to convert the site in an homage to democracy.

Related Topics:
November 20 - 1975 - José Antonio Primo de Rivera - Falange - Santa Cruz del Valle de los Caídos - El Ausente - José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero - 2005

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~