Spain Under Franco: A Totalitarian Regime (1939-1975)
Spain: Franco’s Dictatorship
1. The Francoist Regime
Franco imposed a totalitarian regime similar to Hitler’s Germany and Mussolini’s Italy. While the Axis powers fell after World War II, Francoism persisted until 1975 with Franco’s death.
1.1. Ideological Foundations
Franco’s regime was opposed to Communism, Socialism, and the ideology of the Second Republic. Its ideological foundations were:
- Fascism: Represented by the Falange. Power was concentrated in a single person, Franco (El Caudillo). Fascist
World War II: Axis Powers Advance and Allied Victory
Invasion of the Soviet Union
In his desire to dominate Europe, and unable to occupy Britain, Hitler decided to change his war scenario. In 1941, he attacked the Soviet Union without a declaration of war. The German army (Wehrmacht) achieved great victories and reached Leningrad in the north. In the south, they occupied Ukraine, and in the center, they arrived at the gates of Moscow. As the Germans penetrated deeper into Russia, they experienced increasing difficulties in supplying and communicating
Read MoreEuropean Unification & Spanish Monarchies (1814-1874)
Italian Unification (1859-1870)
Factors that caused a growth in nationalism:
- The Congress of Vienna
- Nationalist and liberal successes in other countries
- The failure of the revolutions of 1848
- Important figures supported Italian unification
The unification process was initiated by Piedmont-Sardinia.
German Unification (1866-1871)
It began as a result of these factors:
- After the Congress of Vienna, the German Confederation was divided into 39 states, united by the Federal Diet (parliament).
- Liberal and nationalist
Causes and Consequences of the 1929 Stock Market Crash
Causes of the 1929 Stock Market Crash
Unbalanced Economic Growth:
- Overproduction: The market was flooded with goods, but demand did not grow at the same pace, leading to saturation and unsold inventory.
- Easy Credit: Americans were encouraged to buy on credit and accumulated significant debt.
- Market Saturation: The American market became saturated, leading to declining sales.
- Falling Prices: Producers reacted by lowering prices. Costs began to exceed profits. Farmers experienced difficulties in loan repayment.
Spanish Civil War: A Concise Summary
At the end of July 1936, Spain was divided into two zones: one Republican, and the other controlled by the Nationalists. The Nationalists controlled part of Andalusia, Castile and León, Galicia, the Balearic Islands, and fields of Aragon and Extremadura – primarily agricultural areas with conservative political leanings.
The Republic held northern Catalonia, Levante, Madrid, Castile-La Mancha, and part of Andalusia – encompassing major cities and industrial areas.
Progress Towards Madrid
The Nationalist
Read MoreSpanish Political History: From Socialism to the Euro
The Socialist Government’s Consolidation of Democracy
From a historical perspective, the long period of socialist government can be defined as the consolidation of democracy. The socialist government, armed with the authority of ten million votes, proceeded decisively with military discipline. Under Narcís Serra, the new legal management of the military in democracy was completed, including the National Defense Law and reform of the Code of Military Justice.
The first socialist government had a fairly
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