General Franco and Dictatorship

At the end of the Spanish Civil War, Spain saw itself economically ruined and politically divided. General Franco and his followers created this political division through constant propaganda about the victorious (nationalists) and the conquered (republicans) and although Franco excelled at the strategy of warfare, his economic acumen was poor.

After the 2nd World War began in 1939, Franco opportunistically aligned himself with Hitler. It should be remembered however that Franco had strong connections with Hitler prior to the start of WWII. On 26th April 1937 Hitler’s Condor Legion blanket bombed the Basque town of Guernica, killing thousands of innocent people: this is widely regarded today as a criminal act, although Franco was never punished specifically for this by the international community.

Although Hitler and Franco met on 23rd October 1940 (in France) to discuss Spain’s contribution to Germany’s Third Reich, Spain’s role was to be little more than a supportive one until Franco declared neutrality in 1943, when the German war machine was beginning to fall.

After WWII, Franco and Spain had been forcibly isolated as a consequence of supporting Germany. The Allied Forces imposed sanctions and on Spain resulting in a significant negative economic impact. However this changed in the early 1950s when Spain was seen as a strategically important geographical location in the Cold War era. Franco entered into trade and military agreements with the US and in 1955 became a member of the United Nations (la Organización de Naciones Unidas). This paved the way for Spain’s economic growth in the 1960s.

In 1969 General Franco announced that Prince Juan Carlos de Borbón would succeed to the Spanish throne upon Franco’s death: Franco had actually proclaimed Spain a monarchy in 1947, but had not designated a monarch prior to the announcement of Juan Carlos’ succession. In fact Franco did not want a king installed as he played the role in all but name.

Throughout his reign Franco decreed that all political opposition and non-sanctioned trade unions were suppressed. This repression extended to ensuring a constant visible presence of armed military police (la Guardia Civil) in all towns and cities. In this way General Franco imposed his dictatorship.
By the 1970s Franco was on the decline, both politically and physically. Franco relinquished the role of Prime Minister to Luis Carrero Blanco in June 1973 but remained Head of State and Commander and Chief of the Military Forces.

Carrero Blanco was a devoted follower of the General and so Franco viewed him as a natural successor who would administer Spain according to his views. However, Carrero Blanco was assasinated in a car bombing in Madrid. ETA claimed responsibility. Carrero Blanco’s death had a profound effect on Franco, and consequently Spain as it probably contributed to General Franco’s deteriorating health. Carrero Blanco’s demise also paved the way for Spain’s transition towards democracy (la transición): Carrero Blanco’s successor was Carlos Arias Navarro who promised liberal political reforms.

General Francisco Franco died on the 20th November 1975 after having been in ill health for some years. Juan Carlos was crowned King of Spain on the 22nd November 1975.