Franco’s Regime: Structure, Ideology, and Repression in Spain
Franco’s Rise to Power
On October 1, 1936, a decree appointed Francisco Franco as Head of State, Government, and Generalissimo of the Spanish Army. The National Defense Council was replaced by a Technical Board of the State. Unlike the Republican side, a single, uncontested military command existed from October 1936 onward, but political cohesion was lacking.
Political Landscape
In the territory under their control, the rebels banned all political parties associated with the Popular Front and all trade unions. The only active political groups were the Spanish Falange (whose founder, Primo de Rivera, had been executed by the Republicans) and the Traditionalist Communion. CEDA and monarchist groups were tolerated. Drawing inspiration from Italian and German fascism, Franco decreed the unification of all nationalist forces into a single party in April 1937: the Traditionalist Spanish Falange de las JONS, led by Franco himself.
Franco’s Government
The institutionalization of the Franco regime culminated in January 1938 with the formation of Franco’s first government. Franco became known as the Leader of Spain. The new state, based on fascist principles, championed a conservative social model rooted in Catholicism. Religious, political, and press freedoms were suppressed, along with statutes of autonomy. The death penalty was reinstated.
Repression and Control
The Labour Law of March 1938 established a single union representing both employers and workers, effectively banning strikes and worker demands. The Catholic Church held significant influence, leading to the repeal of laws concerning civil marriage and divorce, the establishment of religion in education and the army, and state-funded clergy salaries.
Violence and Terror
The construction of the Francoist state was marked by extreme violence and the annihilation of the vanquished in occupied territories. Franco’s government executed Republican politicians who fell into their hands. Repression, carried out by the army, the Falange, and political authorities, became routine and targeted anyone suspected of leftist sympathies. This aimed to create a climate of fear and prevent any resistance.
Characteristics of the Franco Regime
The Franco regime, following its victory in the civil war, exhibited several key characteristics:
- Totalitarianism: Inspired by Italian and German fascism, the regime abolished the 1939 Constitution, closed Parliament, and banned all political parties and trade unions, permitting only a single party and union.
- Franco’s Authority: Franco held absolute power as head of state, prime minister, Generalissimo of the armies, and national party leader.
- Centralized State: The regime abolished autonomous statuses and promoted a unified Spanish identity, suppressing regional identities like Catalan, Basque, and Galician.
- Repression: Systematic persecution of Republican sympathizers and strict censorship of media, which served as Franco’s propaganda tool.
Pillars of the Dictatorship
The Franco dictatorship rested on three institutional pillars: the army, the single party, and the Catholic Church. The army played the most prominent role in maintaining power. The single party (FET de las JONS) provided the regime’s ideological foundation, controlled the media, and filled administrative positions. To gain social support, the party established mass organizations: the Youth Front, the Women’s Section, the Spanish University Union (SEU), and a workers’ organization. The Catholic Church, in exchange for its support, received generous funding, controlled the education system, and ensured the dominance of Catholic values in Spanish society.
Societal Attitudes
Societal attitudes towards the Franco regime varied: support came from economic and social elites who regained their pre-Republic status, along with small and medium landowners in northern Spain. The middle class, traumatized by the war, remained largely passive and apolitical. The popular sectors, initially opposed to Franco, were driven to passivity by repression, fear, poverty, and the struggle for survival.
Political Structure and Influence
The Franco regime’s political structure comprised groups that unconditionally supported Franco and formed the National Movement. Within this structure, various “families” or influence groups coexisted, including the Falange, Carlists, ultra-Catholics, and Alfonsine monarchists. The Church also established influential organizations like the ACNDP and Opus Dei.