Franco’s Dictatorship in Spain: Characteristics and Evolution
Franco’s Dictatorship: Main Features
Franco’s regime was characterized by the concentration of political power in the person of Franco. He was the head of state, leader of the government, of the sole national party (FET y de las JONS), and the maximum military authority. Membership was unquestionably key to the leadership of the newborn political system after the military victory of 1939. All political institutions were created to advise the leader.
Their ideology was a mixture of theoretical principles of the right-wing CEDA, conservative ideologues, and fascism:
- Anti-communism: A key principle since the start of the war. The Cold War between the US and the USSR further strengthened the regime, which sought international recognition.
- Anti-liberalism and Anti-parliamentarism: Franco stated he was against political freedoms.
- National Catholicism: The regime granted privileges to the Church, which was a key backer of the dictatorship. In return, the Church dominated social life and education. Strict Catholic morals prevailed in public and private life.
- Defense of the Fatherland: This was specified in a total refusal of any political autonomy for the regions and the promotion of Castilian Spanish as the sole language. The prohibition of other peninsular languages was strictly enforced at the beginning, later evolving towards a certain tolerance.
- Traditionalism: A grand idea of Spain was defended, with reference to its historical roots, especially the Reconquista and the Empire.
- Militarism: This consisted of the social dominance of the military and its associated elements (parades, uniforms, flags, etc.).
- Fascist Traits: Symbols, uniforms, exaltation of the leader, and defense of violence as a political tool were present. However, the most outwardly compromising aspects, such as the fascist salute, were eliminated after the defeat of the Axis Powers in 1945.
Franco was supported by an administrative elite loyal to him and by economic forces. At the top of the social pyramid were the financial and landowning oligarchy, joined by the industrial bourgeoisie, middle-class traders and landowners, officials, and the political staff of the state apparatus and the bureaucracy of the regime.
Evolution of the Dictatorship (1939-1945)
In 1939, World War II broke out. Germany, Italy, France, and Great Britain put pressure on Franco, and Spain declared neutrality. That year, the Law of Political Responsibilities was enacted, and the following year, the Law of Repression of Freemasonry and Communism (these two laws were applied retroactively). In 1940, France was occupied by Germany, causing Spain to sympathize with Germany and Italy and declare non-belligerence.
The 1940 interview between Franco and Hitler saw Franco ask Hitler for assignments in the French colonial empire. Inside Spain, there was no opposition due to the strong repression, although there was armed opposition led by anarchists and communists (Maquis: acting through guerrillas, they carried out violent actions, took refuge in the mountains, and returned to action when they saw they were being pursued by the Civil Guard).
In 1941, Franco met with Mussolini. When Germany invaded the USSR, Spain sent the Blue Division and proclaimed its opposition to the USSR. Most of the opposition from abroad consisted of Spanish exiles, who in the first years were very divided, blaming each other for the defeat. In 1941, the US entered the war against the Axis powers. From 1942, Germany began suffering defeats, forcing Franco to break ties with Germany.
From 1942, the opposition in exile organized with the hope of returning to Spain and ending the regime. In 1943, under pressure from the Western powers, the Blue Division was dissolved, and the Spanish Junta of Liberation was created in Mexico (also in 1943). In 1944, the National Assembly of Democratic Forces was established in France. Monarchists (another opposition force) represented by Juan de Borbón expressed themselves through the Lausanne Manifesto. In 1945, the war began to end, and isolation began.
All this relates to Spain’s internal policy: in the first years, while there was war in Europe, Spain was strengthening its single party, youth organizations (OGE), the Female Section, and the union (vertical unions). The economy of the time was autarkic. From 1942, Franco’s regime began to distance itself from Germany and Italy, seeing that they were going to lose the war. This led to an image change, and the Constituent Law of the Cortes was proclaimed (1942). From 1945, the regime would be called Organic Democracy.