The Franco Dictatorship: Spain 1939

The Franco Dictatorship came about as a result of the Spanish Civil War. Spain was in a state of turmoil in the mid-1936 with escalating divisive political factions all against the ruling government. The government at the time of the Spanish Civil War was run by a New Popular Front coalition made up of republicans, socialists and Spanish communist parties. This party held progressive ideas and granted amnesty to hundreds of political prisoners arrested by the previous government for their involvement in riots, terrorist’s attacks and outright discontent with the ruling government at the time. When a Spanish army stationed in Morocco attacked the administration of Spain’s government, civil war was unleashed.

The country was divided between the rebels, or Nationalists and the government Republicans. The Nationalists, led by General Francisco Franco, were backed by forces including the Catholic Church, landowning peasants, the Falange and Carlist monarchists. The supporters of the government were known as the Republicans. They were led by Juan Negrin, a moderate socialist, and included most workers, liberals, socialists, communists and Basque and Catalan separatists.

A long civil war ensued between the Nationalists and Republicans. Nationalists’ power was strongest in rural Spain while Republicans were strong in most major industrial and urban areas. Support from Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany in troops, arms and airplanes went to the Nationalist while the USSR sent military equipment and advisers to the Republicans. The Republicans also received support from idealistic volunteers from Europe and the Americas with the exception of France, the UK and USA.

The Nationalists forces benefited from larger amounts of foreign assistance. An international blockage against Spain was enforced primarily against the Republic for fear that Spain’s government was slipping toward Communism. As a result, Franco saw an opportunity to secure military and political leadership. In September of 1936 he was named generalissimo or commander in chief of the Nationalist troops and el caudillo or the leader of Nationalist Spain. By April of 1937 he formed a single party under his control, the FET/JON or Falange Espanola Tradicionalista y de las JONS.

The Republicans, on the other hand, were divided among themselves leading to armed conflicts between revolutionary and anti revolutionary Republicans. The revolutionary Republicans focused on defeating the Nationalists and saving reform until after the war. Antirevolutionary forces wanted immediate revolution such as asserting ownership over private property and turning farms and factories into communes. This internal strife proved disadvantageous for the Republicans.

The Franco’s forces launched a campaign to conquer the Basque province, Asturias, and other industrial regions of northern Spain. The campaign involved air bombing of civilians, German raid of the Basque town of Guernica and control of the industrialized regions of eastern Spain. It finally included the overthrow of Madrid, who had been putting up a long resistance. When Madrid surrendered on March 28, the Nationalists and Franco proclaimed victory of the war in April, 1939.

An estimated 500,000 people died in the war. The country’s infrastructure was severely damaged. From 250,000 to 500,000 political refugees left the country and Spain’s attempt at democracy was replaced by an authoritarian rule, under General Francisco Franco as Spain’s dictator for the next 36 years.

General Franco had no tolerance for the “Reds,” a term referring to anyone associated with the Republicans. His regime tracked and persecuted “Reds” for decades. In the first four years they cleaned out all “Reds” through imprisonment and or executions. Hundreds of thousands perished.

The Catholic Church, Falange and army were the dictatorships political support. Known as the National Movement after 1945, it was the only political organization in Spain. Roman Catholicism became the official state religion and the army provided security for the dictatorship. Insurrection or uprising of potential political leaders was cut off through press censorship and government surveillance across Spain.

Strikes were forbidden, workers and business owners were required to join syndicated government control organizations. Abortions and divorce became illegal. Education became the responsibility of the Catholic Church. Believing strongly in the ideal of a uniform Spain, the separatist regionalist movements in Catalonia, Basque and Galicia provinces were not recognized and in fact suppressed. Once in power, Franco had basically revoked most of the former Republican government legislations.