Franco’s Rise: Spanish Civil War Political Landscape
The Political Developments in the Rebel Zone
The Provisional Organization of the Uprising
At the beginning of the war, between July and September 1936, the uprising was like a classic military coup aimed at overthrowing the government. In the first weeks, there was not any common political project between the military rebels, except to create a military power to annul the law of the Popular Front and lead the systematic repression of those who supported the Republican government. This repression, in contrast to the Republican side, was usually organized by the military, who used it as a means of terrorizing the population and overcoming their resistance. Responsible for managing this dual policy of counter-revolution and repression was, initially, the Board of National Defense in Burgos, headed by General Miguel Cabanellas, although controlled by Mola. Franco was not part of the board until August. That month, the red and yellow flag of the monarchy was adopted as a symbol of the new Spain. Along with the army were the political forces: the Carlist militia framed in Requeté Navarro and fascist militias of the Phalanx.
Franco’s Sole Command
The germ of the new state was born between September and November 1936, when Franco was chosen to bear the military and political command, with the titles of Generalissimo and Head of Government of the Spanish State. On October 1, 1936, General Franco assumed office in Burgos. The first law established an administrative decree, the State Technical Board, made up of seven committees that were similar to ministries. The board was based in Burgos, while the general headquarters was established in Salamanca. The uprising was soon described as a crusade, but this term was not created by the military, but came from the Catholic hierarchy. It can be said, therefore, that the uprising did not support the Catholic Church, but the Catholic Church supported the uprising, which did not prevent Franco from sending several Basque priests related to the PNV to be shot. Military and political leadership joined, therefore, the charismatic and religious, which made Franco a Caudillo (December 1936).
Towards Unification
The process that led to the unification of political forces and supporters of Franco elapsed between November 1936 and April 1937. As it was perceived that the war would be long, and after surrendering, Franco recognized the need to articulate a more coherent, fascist state, designed largely by his brother-in-law, Ramón Serrano Suñer. It used the Carlist Communion grouped into Tradicionalistas, directed by Manuel Fal Conde, the Spanish Phalanx, and the JONS, led by José Antonio Primo de Rivera until November 1936. Beheaded, the two groups, Franco proceeded, in December 1936, to the militarization of armed volunteers from both parties, and later, in April of the following year, taking advantage of internal strife between the Phalanx, decreed the unification of the Phalanx and Carlist movement that was beyond the traditional political parties: Falange Española Tradicionalista y de las Juntas de Ofensiva Nacional Sindicalista (FET de las JONS), modeled after the one-party fascist state. The most significant opposition came from the Phalanx itself, which was the majority. Its national leader, Manuel Hedilla, was arrested for opposing the unification.
The Configuration of the New State Government
In the first two years (April 1937-April 1939), absolute power was strengthened under Franco with his first government, composed of 11 ministers and established in February 1938. The President was, at the same time, the Head of State, that is, Franco himself, who assumed, from Burgos, all power over the army, party, government, and administration. Although the only source of power was the person of the dictator, both the government and party agencies were profiled, which would constitute the political families of the future regime, which formed an amalgam called Francoism for decades to come. The main task of the new government was to develop a profoundly reactionary legislation that included measures that they all shared:
- State control of the media
- Suppression of political pluralism
- Legalization of the death penalty
- Restoration of Catholicism as the official religion
- Erasing public life and freedom from all secular actions of the Second Republic (especially in education and divorce)
On social issues, the Charter of Work (March 1938) was approved, mimicking the one promulgated by Italian fascism, which contained general business principles. Industrial tribunals were also created to resolve disputes, and vertical trade unions were set up, the only ones authorized. The government also issued measures on grain prices.