Franco’s Dictatorship (1939-1975): Rise, Consolidation, and Fall
1. General Characteristics of the Franco Dictatorship
The Franco dictatorship evolved over time, but its foundations remained consistent. Franco held all power: head of state, control over all branches of government, and supreme command of the army. Courts were limited to passing laws presented by the government. As the undisputed leader, he was glorified with titles.
There was a single legal party, FET y JONS (Falange Española Tradicionalista y de las JONS), which unified all political forces supporting the uprising against the Republic. Individual rights and freedoms were abolished, and nationalist demonstrations were suppressed. The autonomous status of Catalonia and the Basque Country was revoked.
The Winners: Franco’s Supporters
The dictatorship was supported by social sectors that backed the rebels in the Civil War. Victory consolidated their position and granted them power and influence.
- The army guaranteed the regime. Many commanders held positions in government and state-owned companies.
- The Catholic Church benefited from the confessional state, receiving privileges such as the return of Catholic education and the abolition of civil marriage.
- Landowners and big businessmen saw their power solidified. The agrarian bourgeoisie benefited from the abolition of agrarian reform, and the industrial bourgeoisie from the absence of unions.
Franco also enjoyed support from the middle class, who were generally conservative and desired stability.
The Price: Exile and Repression
Repression was widespread under the dictatorship to prevent dissent. Republicans faced forced labor or execution. Languages other than Castilian were forbidden, and publications and films were censored by the dictatorship and the Church.
After the Civil War, many people went into exile, fearing reprisals. Republican leaders, foreigners, and intellectuals were among those who fled. This forced migration resulted in significant human and cultural losses for the country.
2. The Post-War Years (1939-1945): Fascism and Misery
A Fascist-Influenced Government
The early years of the Franco regime were marked by World War II. In 1941, the Blue Division was created to support Hitler’s Germany on the Eastern Front. In 1942, after the Allied declaration of victory, Spain declared neutrality and withdrew the division.
The Falange held significant influence initially, guiding the system under fascist doctrines. An autarkic economy was imposed, aiming for self-sufficiency. The National Wheat Service controlled production and distribution, and the National Institute of Industry (INI) was created to encourage industrialization. These efforts failed, and the Spanish economy couldn’t meet the population’s needs.
The regime controlled the population through FET y JONS organizations, including the National Trade Union Organization, the Women’s Section, and the Spanish Youth Organization (OJE).
Fascist symbols, such as the Roman salute, were introduced. Repression was harsh, with thousands sentenced to forced labor or death. Almost all domestic opposition was eliminated, though some guerrilla fighters (maquis) remained in isolated mountain ranges.
A Devastated Economy
The Spanish economy was in ruins after the war. Industries, roads, and railways were destroyed. Economic activity declined in cities, and people returned to rural areas. Spain reverted to a predominantly agricultural country, and per capita income fell.
The 1940s were marked by shortages of products, food, clothing, and fuel. Rationing was implemented. A black market emerged where goods could be bought at high prices.
3. The Consolidation of the Regime (1945-1959): From Isolation to International Acceptance
After World War II, the victorious powers attempted to overthrow Franco. The dictatorship faced international isolation: Spain was not admitted to the UN, most countries withdrew their ambassadors, and France closed its border.
The Cold War changed this. The US saw Franco’s anti-communist stance as making him a potential ally. Isolation eased: the French border reopened, embassies were re-established, a concordat was signed with the Holy See, and a treaty with the US allowed American military bases in Spain in exchange for economic aid. In 1955, Spain was admitted to the UN.
Abandoning Fascism, but Not Dictatorship
International pressure forced Franco to modify the government. Falangists lost influence, and Catholics and monarchists filled ministries and high-ranking positions. Fascist aspects were removed: the Roman salute became optional, and FET y JONS was renamed the National Movement.
The new political environment led to the first opposition actions. In 1956, riots occurred at the University of Madrid, and worker strikes took place in Asturias and Catalonia.
The Arrival of the Technocrats and Economic Change
In the 1950s, slight economic growth eased poverty and allowed the abolition of rationing. However, Spain remained underdeveloped due to its autarkic policies.
In the late 1950s, individuals linked to Opus Dei, known as technocrats, entered the government. A stabilization plan in 1959 encouraged private enterprise and foreign investment. Tariffs were reduced, and autarky was abandoned, aligning the Spanish economy with neighboring capitalist systems.
4. Changes in the Sixties
Growth between 1960 and 1973 was based on industry and tourism. Agriculture modernized through mechanization, increasing production and reducing labor. Foreign investment and tourism revenue fueled growth.
Development plans aimed to industrialize poorer areas and reduce regional disparities. The population grew by 3.5 million due to the baby boom and declining mortality. Modernization led to a rural exodus and urbanization, but cities lacked infrastructure. Around two million Spaniards emigrated to other European countries.
Living standards improved, and a consumer society emerged. New economic activities demanded skilled professionals, leading to the expansion of compulsory education to age 14. The 1966 Press Law eased censorship, increasing freedom of expression.
5. The Final Crisis of the Dictatorship
Economic and social changes in the 1960s fueled opposition. In 1956, the Communist Party launched a national reconciliation policy, aiming for an alliance against the dictatorship. New forms of opposition emerged, including neighborhood movements, student movements, intellectual and artistic dissent, and the Workers’ Commissions trade union.
Terrorist groups like GRAPO, FRAP, and ETA also emerged. The 1973 oil crisis severely impacted Spain, causing inflation, business closures, and unemployment. Social unrest grew, with illegal strikes becoming more frequent.
Franco’s health deteriorated. In 1969, he named Juan Carlos de Borbón as his successor and Admiral Luis Carrero Blanco as head of government. Carrero Blanco’s assassination by ETA in 1973 left a leadership vacuum. The regime responded with increased repression. During the Green March, Morocco annexed Spanish Sahara. Franco died on November 20, 1975.
Despite economic growth, significant inequalities persisted in 1970s Spain. Public services remained inadequate, and many workers lacked protection. A wide gap existed between the low cultural level of the majority and the high education level of a minority.
6. The Canary Islands During the Franco Dictatorship
The Forties
International isolation had severe consequences for the Canary Islands. The commercial crisis led to rationing, price controls, and smuggling. A war economy persisted until 1946. Intense political repression marked the 1940s, with the islands hosting thousands of political prisoners. Many Canarians were exiled or emigrated to the Americas.
The Baby Boom
Between 1940 and 1970, a population explosion occurred due to increased fertility and declining mortality.
Tourism and Economic Expansion
From the 1960s, the development of service industries and tourism caused rural migration to cities and tourist areas. Illiteracy declined.
Tourism led to an economic revival. Mainland and foreign investment spurred the development of new tourist areas, transforming the landscape of the most visited islands. Returning migrants invested their savings, further boosting the economy. However, rising oil prices and the international economic crisis interrupted this progress, impacting sectors other than tourism.
Additional Information
1. Canute Frankson / Hyman (Chaim) Katz
2. Canute: June 1937 / Chaim: November 25, 1937
3. Both participated in the Spanish Civil War, starting in April.
4. Both were American volunteers.
5. Both were pro-Republican.
6. They volunteered to fight against fascism. Frankson sought social equality, and Katz opposed the persecution of Jewish people.