Franco’s Dictatorship in Spain: Repression and Resistance
Franco’s Dictatorship (1939-1975)
Totalitarianism, Authoritarianism, and Repression
Franco’s rule, legitimized solely by his victory in the Civil War, was marked by totalitarianism. The 1931 constitution was abolished, individual and collective freedoms were suppressed, parliament was dissolved, and a single-party system was enforced. Franco, self-proclaimed “Caudillo” of Spain, held absolute power, serving as both Generalissimo of the armed forces and head of the Falange Española Tradicionalista y de las JONS.
Centralized State and Cultural Repression
Under Franco’s centralized, unitary state, the regime promoted Spanish nationalism and suppressed regional identities, particularly in Catalonia, the Basque Country, and Galicia. The Catalan language and cultural expressions were banned, leading to what some historians term “cultural genocide.” This attempt to erase Catalan identity forced many cultural institutions underground, though resistance persisted.
Pillars of the Dictatorship
The Franco regime rested on three main pillars: the army, the Falange, and the Catholic Church. The army actively participated in maintaining power. The Falange provided the regime’s ideological foundation, controlled the media, and filled administrative positions. Mass organizations like the Youth Front and the National Syndicalist Union were established to bolster support. The Catholic Church, declared the state religion, played a key role in shaping social attitudes favorable to the regime.
Social and Economic Impact
Franco’s regime enjoyed support from social and economic elites, including landowners and some middle-class sectors. However, the middle class largely remained politically passive due to the trauma of the war. Many working-class people, considered the losers of the war, also adopted a stance of political passivity for survival. Workers, however, harbored a hostile passivity and became a source of opposition.
Catalonia Under Franco
In Catalonia, support for Franco came primarily from industrialists, landowners, merchants, and financiers. Despite the regime’s efforts, Falangist militancy remained low. Political positions were filled with individuals from outside Catalonia, chosen for their loyalty to the regime, often with backgrounds in the extreme right.
Evolution of Francoism
Initially, the regime incorporated Falangists, Carlists, monarchists, and ultra-Catholics. The influence of Falangist and national-syndicalist ideas waned after World War II, leading Franco to adapt to the changing international landscape. The regime evolved into an “organic democracy” emphasizing National Catholicism. Later, Opus Dei played a significant role in the economic transformations of the regime’s second stage.
Institutionalized Repression
The end of the Civil War did not end the violence. Franco’s regime institutionalized repression to eliminate opposition. The Law of Political Responsibilities (1939) and the Law for the Suppression of Freemasonry and Communism (1940) were key instruments of repression. The army served as the primary enforcer until the establishment of the Public Order Tribunal in 1963. An estimated 150,000 people were executed for political reasons across Spain, including nearly 4,000 in Catalonia. Many Republicans fled to France to escape persecution. By 1940, approximately 280,000 political prisoners were held throughout Spain, leading to the creation of overcrowded concentration camps with high mortality rates. Forced labor battalions were also employed.
Seizure of Assets and Political Control
The regime engaged in widespread seizure and plunder of property belonging to political exiles and Republicans, as well as assets of political parties, unions, and other organizations associated with the Republic. A purge of public officials was carried out, with a 1939 law requiring adherence to the National Movement for continued employment. Teachers faced particularly harsh treatment. Professional associations were used to control entry into certain professions. Private companies were forced to dismiss exiles, those arrested, and left-wing militants. This systematic repression aimed to consolidate Franco’s control and suppress dissent.