Franco’s dictatorship 1939-1975

The political regime established by Franco was a military and fascist

dictatorship. It was based on militarism, conservative catholicism and the unity
of Spain:
*Concentration of power in Franco’s hands (Caudillo de España, Generalísimo
del ejército)
*Suppression of the Cortes *Prohibition of political parties and unions
*Persecution of opponents to the regime
Franquism had the support of groups that lost their privileges during the
Second Republic:
*The army guaranteed the continuity of the regime and they occupied may
important gov positions
*The Falange maintained social control and occupied gov positions
*The Catholic Church regained its prominence. Spain became a confessional
state and re-established a budget for the clergy with the 1953 Concordat.
Divorce abolished and religious education
*Landowning and industrial bourgeoisie held great economic power.
Republican land and labour reforms were overturned

-Falangist rule and support for fascism (39-45):

The Franco’s totalitarian regime was inspired by the italian and nazi regimes:
*Single party (Falange) and a single union (Sindicato vertical)
*Republican institutions were dismantled. Consultative cortes were created
(which were not dem elected)
*Unitary and centralist state, autonomic statutes abolished and cat, bas and
gal regional identities were prohibited
*To persecute opposition repressive laws were created (Ley de
responsabilidades políticas)
In 1939, Spain supported the axis powers during WWII. Although they weren’t
involved they sent the División Azul to Russia to battle communism. From
1943, war began unfavourable for the axis powers. Therefore, Spain returned
to become neutral and dissolved the División Azul.
After the defeat of the axis powers, Franco faced the possibility that the Allies
demand him to cede power.
*Social control:
Franquism meant a return to traditional society. The regime imposed changes
in daily life, cultural and religious behavior. Regime’s ideological and moral
principles were imposed, and it exerted exhaustive control over public and
private activities.
*Traditional moral norms:
Behavior was based on traditional Catholic values. Ceremonial rites were
compulsories. Civil marriage and divorce were prohibited. Abortion,
homosexuality and cohabitation were severely repressed.
*Social indoctrination:
Various organizations were created to indoctrinate the society (Frente de
Juventudes, Sección Femenina, Educación y Descanso and Auxilio Social).
-Relations with the US (45-57):
The defeat of the axis powers led to a period of isolation and rejection for
Franquism. The rejection had an enormous economic and political cost. Spain
didn’t benefit from the Marshall Plan (June 47). It was also excluded from
NATO.
At the end of 1940s, the failure of autarkic policies, new international
environment and popular unrest over harsh living and working conditions (gen
strike Bilbao March 48, pop mov BCN 51) convinced that the regime had to
change its political and economic orientation. To appeal to Western dem, they
excluded falangist members from important positions. Fascist terminology and
symbols were no longer used. Franquism presented itself as a catholic
conservative state with an anti-communist regime whose objective was to
evolve towards a monarchy.
A new gov was created in 1951 with members of the Asociación Católica
Nacional de Propagandistas. The law of Principles of the Movimiento Nacional
(58) was passed, it altered guiding principles of the regime without changing
its dictatorial nature. All public officials had to take an oath before taking office.
In 1947, the Cold War changed the international landscape. For the US it was
more important to search for allies to fight against the USSR than to condemn
the Franco regime.
Two agreements signed in 1953 were important for the international
recognition of Franquism:
*Concordat with the Holy See recognised preeminence of Catholic church,
Spain as a confessional state and guaranteed privileges for the Cat ch
*Bilateral agreements with the US made Spain a loyal ally against the USSR.
The US gained permission to establish and use military basements in Spanish
territory, in exchange for weapons to modernize Spanish armed forces.
These pacts opened the door to international acceptance. Spain entered the
UN in 1955.

-Technocrats government (57-69):

In 1957, ministers from the Opus Dei entered the gov. They were more
technical than ideological and had more professional training.
For them, the only way to maintain Franco’s was to carry out administrative
reforms and promote policies of econ growth. Econ dev would guarantee
social stability and pol continuity.
The Falange was renamed the Movimiento Nacional. The ref of the regime
was described as an “organic democracy”. To ensure its continuity, the Cortes
appointed Juan Carlos as Franco’s successor.
The new gov launched an Stabilization Plan (59) whose objective was to
replace the isolated, state-controlled econ with a new one engaged in
international capitalism and with involvement from the private sector.
Inter organizations granted loans to Spain to deal with the econ situation.
In the 60s, the Econ and Social Dev Plans were introduced as a series of
three four-year plans, but their impact was very limited. The goal was to
encourage indus by programming pub works and off info and forec to pr inv.
*Population growth and migration:
In the 60s, economic expansion stimulated pop growth. The Spanish
population went from 25.8 mill in 40 to 33.8 mill in 70. This growth was a result
of a decline in mortality, among children, and a high birth rate because of the
amelioration of living conditions.
-Money sent from people living abroad improved Spanish families conditions
-Rural exodus (from Andalusia, Extremadura and Galicia to Madrid, Barcelona
and Basque country)
*Improved living conditions:
Economic dev brought elements of modernisation to Spanish society: increase
of urban population and increasing of ind and service sector over agr.
Sharp increase of ind workers (many of them low-skilled). But the middle
classes also grew and participated in activities such as teaching or healthcare.
As household income increased, people started to buy refrigerators, tv or cars.
*Social modernisation:
Foreign tourists came looking to enjoy the warm Mediterranean weather and
low prices. The influence of tourism, greater urbanization and inter mobility
helped change Spanish mentality. Women became a more important presence
in the workforce, Cat ch moral influence declined and public educ expanded.

It was not until the 1960s that new opposition mov formed and spread among
different social groups:
*The exiles → With the outbreak of WWII, many of them joined the resistance
against the Nazis. Thousands of them emigrated to Latin America and
countries such as Mexico or the Dominican Republic took them in. Some of
them returned to Spain the years following the conflict, but others were unable
to return until 1977.
*The maquis and underground mov → Between 39 and 44, groups of Rep
guerrillas (maquis) hid in mountain regions. They hoped that the axis powers'
defeat would provoke the end of Franquism. In 44 they launched a failed
attempt to occupy the Aran Valley. They remained active until the early 50s.
From 1945, opposition parties reorganized themselves underground. The first
public collective actions took place in the general strike in Biscay 47, the tram
strike in BCN 51 and the Asturian miners’ strike 58.
*The opposition → The opposition grew in size and spread to new sectors of
society. The PCE was the most active undgr party. It participated in the
creation of the Comisiones Obreras (trade union that combined demand for
political freedom and labour ones). In 62, strikes became frequent in Madrid,
Catalunya, Basque Country and Asturias.
The PSOE reorganized its leadership and participated with monarchist and
Chr democrat groups in the Munich Meeting 62. The PNV, the Front Nacional
de Catalunya and the Moviment Socialista de Catalunya united the demand
for freedoms and the restoration of autonomy
-Crisis and decline of the regime (69-75):
The crisis of the technocratic gov was made public in 1969 with the Matesa
scandal (A textile machinery had committed financial fraud and allegations of
corruption implicated some high officials of the regime.
The Matesa scandal led the regime to dismiss the technocrats. The vice
presidente de the gov, Carrero Blanco, emerged as a protector of Franco’s
regime. He defended the need to toughen domestic policy and increase
repression.
*Economic crisis:
Political instability coincided with a change in the economic situation caused
by a rapid increase in the price of oil and raw materials. The oil crisis ended
the growth and prosperity period of the Spanish economy.
This meant a continuous rise in prices, decline in tourism, which reduced
foreign investment and the return of many emigrants. It affected ind sector, as
many companies went bankrupt. From 75, economy slowed down, inflation
rised and unemployment grew.
*Increase of social opposition:
All this led to an Anti-Franco opposition from politicians, unions and the
people. Anti-franquists carried out organizations to carry out their demands for
change and prevent continuity of Franco’s regime after his death.
Assemblea de Catalunya 1971, Junta Democrática 1974 PCE, Platforma
Democrática 1975 PSOE. These orgs called for amnesty, recognition of
freedoms and free elections.
Protests demanding democratization increased as many strikes,
demonstrations and declarations by individuals.
*Final crisis of Franquism:
In 73, Franco was seriously ill. Admiral Luis Carrero Blanco was assassinated
by ETA in Dec 73. His death was a hard blow because he was supposed to
continue the regime.
In Jan 74, a new gov was created (Carlos Arias Navarro). After an initial
attempt to stimulate some reforms, it opted to increase repression.
Political instability was accompanied by an increase in terrorist activity ( ETA,
GRAPO and FRAP). Gov’s response was to increase repression and declare
a state of emergency and carrying out many death sentences (Salvador Puig
Antich 74 and 5 members from ETA and FRAP).
Against this backdrop and in the midst of a serious conflict over control of its
Spanish Sahara territory, Franco died in November 1975.