Franco’s Regime: Politics, Economy, and Resistance
The State of Postwar Spain and Franco’s Regime
Political Structure of the Franco Regime
A hierarchical political structure characterized by the suppression of all freedoms and the arbitrary designation of public office. Franco’s main enemies were Marxism, regional separatists (Basque, Catalan, and Galician), and the Maquis (anti-Franco guerrillas).
The Regime’s Ideology
Franco aimed to imitate the European fascist systems of Mussolini and Hitler. Political structure was created gradually. Legislative power rested with the Cortes Españolas, which proposed and voted on laws. However, Franco held veto power and could propose new laws. The Constituent Assembly was formed by Franco and comprised entirely of supporters of the dictatorship. Franco directly controlled the executive and judicial branches.
Franco’s Legislation
The rights and duties of Spaniards were always limited to obedience to the regime’s ideological principles. The Act of Succession to the Head of State was passed, defining Spain as a kingdom that could eventually restore the monarchy, with the successor chosen by Franco. The Fundamental Principles of the Law of the National Movement endorsed the regime’s political base.
The Franco Regime and the International Context
The Impact of WWII
Franco, claiming insufficient compensation from the Germans, provided all possible facilities to Hitler. He created a volunteer unit, the Blue Division, which joined the German army to fight against the Soviet Union. As the course of World War II changed, Franco shifted his position to neutrality.
International Recognition
The newly formed United Nations (UN) debated the recognition of the Franco regime. The UN condemned the regime and recommended the withdrawal of Spanish ambassadors, leading to international isolation of the dictatorship.
The Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union led the U.S. to form alliances with various countries, even non-democratic ones, to prevent the spread of communism. Franco’s anti-communism facilitated international recognition of the regime. The U.S. military was granted access to military bases in Spain.
Exile and Resistance
The Resistance
Organizing resistance was extremely difficult. Guerrilla fighters (Maquis) attempted to fight Franco. These fighters held diverse ideological views (communists, anarchists, and socialists). Harsh living conditions in the postwar period led to other forms of protest and resistance, especially workers’ strikes. In Barcelona, a notable protest was the tramway strike, a boycott of the tram service to protest abusive price increases.
Juan de Borbón, initially opposed to Franco, proclaimed the Lausanne Manifesto and began to approach the dictator.
Autarky and Living Conditions
Franco implemented an economic policy based on autarky, aiming for Spain’s economic self-sufficiency.
Economic Policy
Autarky involved direct state intervention in the economy. Legislation prohibited free trade unions. The “vertical union” mandated that all participants in a branch of production be part of a single organization. This official union, inspired by Italian Fascism, resulted in the National Syndicalist Central (CNS). A significant economic recession occurred. The National Institute of Industry (INI) was created to provide structure to state-owned industries. One of the few positive developments was the establishment of SEAT (Sociedad Española de Automóviles de Turismo).
The Franco Regime in Catalonia
Political and Trade Union Resistance
New groups emerged, such as the National Front of Catalonia. The CNT (Confederación Nacional del Trabajo) established a powerful underground organization. The actions of the Maquis, particularly Quico Sabaté, were significant.