Franco’s Regime in Spain: A Historical Analysis (1939-1975)
**1. Early Years of Franco’s Regime (1939-1950)**
Since 1939, a series of factors came together during this time period:
- The country had to be reformed.
- The new political system had to be stabilized.
- International incidents and conflicts had to be addressed according to foreign policy.
**International Policy: Isolation**
*Attitude During World War II*
Spain’s attitude during World War II changed as the war progressed. Initially, Spain declared itself neutral due to the harsh economic situation. When the Axis powers were winning in mid-1940, Franco had interviews with German and Italian leaders, but no agreements were reached. Ultimately, France and Britain had greater weight due to commercial interests.
In 1941, after the Germans invaded the Soviet Union, Spain decided to send troops known as the Blue Division to the Leningrad front to fight against communism and for Germany. When the United States and the Allies began to win the war, Spain’s attitude shifted back to non-belligerence, and it stopped helping the Axis powers.
In 1943, after Mussolini fell in Italy, the U.S. threatened Spain with an economic blockade. Spain signed an agreement of neutrality in favor of the Allies. At the end of the world conflict, the international community doubted Spain’s position because of its intermediate stance toward the fascists, leading to international isolation.
In 1947, during the Cold War, the international community lessened the pressure, and the Western bloc drew closer to Franco, thanks to his decisive anti-communism.
**Domestic Policy: Autarky**
During the initial years of Franco’s dictatorial state, politics and political economy were established under the nature of autarky. To this end, foreign relations were minimized, and a self-sufficient economy was promoted.
*Politics*
During these years, the Franco regime practiced anti-democratic policies, denying freedom of expression, among other things, and there was no constitution. It is noteworthy that at the beginning of this period, the influence of the Falangists was evident in the field of politics. However, the situation gradually changed, with the military, monarchists, and Catholics gaining influence.
During these years, several laws were enacted:
- The Law of the Franco Courts (1942)
- Spanish Forum (1945)
- National Referendum Act (1945)
- Head of State Succession Act (1947)
Ostensibly, the laws seemed to favor openness, but in practice, they were intended to improve the image of the regime and find relief from isolation.
*Economy*
In the initial years, Franco’s economic policy had two main characteristics:
- State intervention in all economic sectors and processes.
- Autarky was dominant.
In 1941, the INI (National Institute of Industry) was founded with several objectives:
- Strengthen and promote Spanish businesses.
- Achieve economic self-sufficiency.
- Avoid foreign exchange as much as possible.
The consequences of this economic policy were not as expected. Reasons:
- Lack of raw materials hindered production.
- Price controls led to the creation of a black market and rationing: estraperlo.
**3. Evolution of the Opposition**
Different groups chose the path of resistance to the Franco regime at various times.
**Opposition After the Civil War and World Conflict**
From the beginning of the regime, opposition existed both within Spain and abroad. Members of this opposition were those who remained from the losing side of the Civil War, as well as groups that initially supported Franco but were later excluded as he consolidated his personalist and dictatorial character.
*Domestic Opposition*
Republican forces formed guerrilla groups (known as maquis). These groups had followers from the Communist Party and military groups, and they tried to continue the Civil War. Between 1946 and 1948, repression against them was tough, and most of them were dismantled. Among the persecutors, the Falangist sector was the hardest. On the other hand, monarchists organized around the idea of restoring the Bourbon monarchy. Finally, there was a consensus among monarchist opposition to the regime: the Bourbon heir, King Juan Carlos, had to replace Franco in his training.
*Foreign Opposition*
With the end of the world conflict, the opposition was strengthened and reorganized, thinking they could win allies. They believed that, as had happened with the totalitarian regimes in Germany and Italy, the Spanish regime would also fall. In 1945, the Republican government in exile was organized, with representatives from the Socialist Party, anarchists, and nationalists. However, deep differences between the groups opposed to the regime turned the government’s work into something symbolic and inefficient.
**Stabilization of the Opposition in the 1950s**
A range of factors led opposition leaders to become less efficient in the 1950s: international acceptance of the Franco regime, the distancing of some opposition groups (such as monarchists), and the weakening of the Communist Party and other opposition groups.
In this situation, new stabilization groups emerged:
- Workers’ Movement: Several major strikes were organized in the 1940s, with the first recorded in the most industrialized areas: Catalonia in 1946 and the Basque Country in 1947. These events were repeated in 1951 and 1956, with street fighting and workers being expelled from their jobs.
- Student Movement: Students proclaimed a liberal position. Many disorders and disturbances were created in the streets as a result of these protests.
**New Opposition Groups in the 1960s**
Economic development led to a wide range of socio-cultural changes in the 1960s, resulting in more events and protests. A more extended opposition was born, both in Spain and abroad.
- Munich’s Conspiracy: In 1962, all opposition forces (internal and external) met in Munich to form a common front against the anti-democratic system.
- Workers’ Movement: As the economy developed, more and more employees became politicized, leading to numerous strikes and demonstrations. Trade unions were also established, such as the Workers’ Commissions (CCOO), which operated clandestinely outside the official trade unions of the regime.
- University Movement: As the regime was about to lose control of the universities, a critical attitude against the system emerged in the university world. However, progressive professors were removed from their positions, and protests continued.
- Strong Opposition from the Church: Over the years, a sector of the clergy began to distance itself from the regime and embrace a more secular society, driven by the innovative atmosphere of the Second Vatican Council and a critical attitude toward the dictatorship.
**5. Franco’s Dictatorship in the Southern Basque Country**
**5.1 Post-War Regime and Initial Years**
After the Civil War, Basque society was divided into two parts:
- Supporters of the new regime: military, Falangists, traditionalists, and members of the upper class.
- Anti-regime: nationalists, communists, and socialists.
*Society*
During the initial years of the regime, a large part of society, especially those opposed to Franco, suffered terrible oppression and the denial of their rights. Any expression of Basque culture was banned.
*Politics*
All institutions created during the Republic were dissolved, as well as the 1936 Statute of Autonomy.
*Economy*
Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa lost their economic privileges. Araba, however, had supported the regime and did not lose them, although they were not applied.
*Political Activity*
The Basque Government in exile continued, headed by J.A. Aguirre. Diplomatic links were created with the Allies during World War II, especially with the U.S. They thought foreign participation would end Franco’s dictatorship, but this was a misconception. In this context, Basque political forces and other Spanish political forces signed the Treaty of Bayonne in 1947, with the aim of restoring the Autonomous Republic and the Statute.
In economic terms, these post-war years were very hard, both because of the direct consequences of the war and the autarkic conditions imposed by the state.