Franco’s Regime: Dictatorship in Spain (1939-1959)
The result of the Civil War was the consolidation of the dictatorial regime that rebelled against the Republic and began building in October 1936. The scheme introduced by Franco in Spain lasted until his death in 1975. Franco’s regime remained a harsh dictatorship characterized by the repression of its opponents.
A Dictatorial Regime
Franco instituted a state legitimized only by the Civil War and characterized by extreme authoritarianism. Its most characteristic features were:
- Totalitarianism: The Franco dictatorship began as a model inspired by Italian Fascism and German Nazism. The 1931 Constitution was abolished, and political parties and trade unions were banned. Only the existence of a single party and an official union was allowed.
- Warlordism: Franco, under the title of “Leader of Spain,” was Chief of State and Prime Minister. Besides, he was Generalissimo of all the armies and National Party Leader.
- Unitary and Centralist Conception of the State: Franco eliminated the statutes of autonomy and the capacity of the population of Spanish “Catalan and Basque.”
- The Repression of the Opposition: During the Franco regime, the persecution of supporters of the Republic began.
- The Control of the Media: The media was subject to strict censorship and was used as a propaganda machine for Franco.
The single-party, Spanish Falange Traditionalist and JONS, was in charge of controlling the media and providing administrative positions. The party constituted four mass organizations:
- The Youth Front, dedicated to the training and education of youth.
- The Women’s Section, which aimed to educate women according to National-Christian values.
- The Spanish Trade Union University, which sought to establish political control over the university.
- The National Trade Union, which integrated workers into an organization.
The Church was given control of the education system.
Since its inception, the dictatorship had the support of economic and social elites who regained economic, social, and political power. It also received the union of the landowners. The middle classes during the Civil War were overwhelmed by the social revolution. So, despite the ideological rejection, the middle classes became passive and apolitical.
Finally, some of the popular sectors opposed the Franco regime, but fear and police control led to mostly passive resistance.
The political structure of the Francoist state was set up so that certain groups supported the Leader of Spain. However, within the different groups coexisted under Franco:
- The first group gave conditional support to the rebellion of 1936: Falangists, Alfonsinos, Carlist monarchists.
- The Church also believed groups such as Opus Dei.
Institutional Regression
During the Civil War, the rebels expressed their desire to eliminate those who opposed the military uprising. Insurgents unleashed indiscriminate violence against Republicans.
The end of the conflict led to the institutionalization of repression. To this end, a series of coercive laws were developed, and justice was subject to the dictates of the government.
- The Law of Political Responsibilities meant the total clearance of persons who had collaborated with the Republic.
- The Suppression of Communism and Masonry Act sought to prosecute those who defended ideas contrary to religion and the homeland.
The high number of prisoners required the establishment of camps. The convicts were sent to labor battalions for forced labor, and Disciplinary Battalions of Soldier Workers were created.
The set of repressive measures was characterized by their exemplary nature and punishment.
- Properties were confiscated from Republican politicians, as were the assets of all Republican parties and trade unions.
- A purge of officials was carried out.
- Purges of professional associations, such as doctors, lawyers, and journalists, were conducted.
- In private companies, authorities ordered the dismissal of all exiles and detainees.
In Catalonia, the Basque Country, and Galicia, all non-Castilian language and culture demonstrations were banned. The crackdown forced many intellectuals, teachers, and professionals to seek refuge in exile.
The Structure of the New State
The Franco dictatorship tried to give an image of legality with the enactment of a series of fundamental laws and the creation of a court that gave the appearance of a parliamentary system. This was called “Organic Democracy.” It began during the Civil War and ended in 1966 with the enactment of the Organic Law of the State.
The first feature of the new state was the concentration of power in Franco, who enjoyed exceptional powers to enact laws in case of emergency.
The Charter of Labor, the first fundamental law of Fascist inspiration, was established in 1938.
In 1945, the Charter of the Spanish was instituted, which wanted to pretend that in Spain, the Spanish could also enjoy certain political freedoms, as was the National Referendum Act.
The Succession Law allowed Franco to designate a successor with the title of King. The Law of the Principles of the National Movement reaffirmed the Movement as the sole national party.
Franco rejected the democratic system. For the construction of the new state, he was inspired by the Italian corporatist state. The system was called organic democracy.
The Constitutive Law of the Courts was a fundamental law that defended the Courts as the body of the Spanish people and participation in the work of the state. All representatives, called “procuradores,” were appointed by the power, and among them were ministers, mayors, and Church representatives.
These Courts lacked legislative power under Franco. It was a collaborative body with the Head of State.
At the territorial level, the government’s power was exercised by the civil governors in each province. The state dictated working conditions, canceling collective bargaining and outlawing strikes. The result was low wages and extensive business benefits.