Franco’s Rise: Creation of a Totalitarian State in Spain
The Creation of a Totalitarian State: Francisco Franco
Generalissimo: Consolidating Power
The death of General Sanjurjo, a key figure in the coup, and the success of the insurrection, created a leadership vacuum in both management and government. On July 24th, the Board of National Defense was formed, including Mola, Franco, and others, headed by General Miguel Cabanellas. The Board’s mission was to govern the occupied territory. Its initial actions included banning all political parties, suspending the Constitution, and halting agrarian reform.
General Francisco Franco steadily gained support. His leadership within the army grew, particularly after the relief of the Alcázar of Toledo. He also secured recognition from Hitler and Mussolini as the sole negotiating partner for support. Finally, on September 30th, he was elected head of the Uprising. On October 1, 1936, he was appointed head of state and Generalissimo of the Armies. The National Defense Council was dissolved, and the Technical Board of the State was established.
The Creation of a Single Party: The Burgos Government
From October onward, there was a unified military command but a lack of political cohesion. The rebels had outlawed all political parties of the Popular Front and the unions. Only the Falange and JONS (National Syndicalist Offensive Boards), whose founder José Antonio Primo de Rivera had been killed, were allowed to operate. The CEDA (Spanish Confederation of Autonomous Rights) was tolerated but virtually dismantled.
Franco, a monarchist, adopted a strategy of prolonging the war, which solidified his military leadership. Inspired by the fascist state model, in April 1937, Franco announced the Unification Decree, establishing a single party: the Traditionalist Spanish Falange of the JONS, merging the Falange and Carlists, along with all other “national” forces. Franco became the National Chief of this unified party. The new party adopted the blue shirt of the Falange, the red beret of the Carlists, and the fascist salute. Resistance to unification was suppressed through banishment or imprisonment.
The institutionalization of Franco’s regime continued with the dissolution of the Technical Board and the formation of Franco’s first government. Franco concentrated the roles of head of state and head of government, becoming known as the Caudillo of Spain. The new state drew inspiration from fascism, advocating a social model rooted in conservatism and Catholicism. The Republican State’s rule of law was abolished regarding economic, social, and labor matters. Freedoms and autonomy statutes were suppressed, and the death penalty was reinstated. In March 1938, the Labour Law was passed, establishing a single union that brought together employers and workers. Strikes and demands were banned. The Catholic Church’s influence was significant. The new state was confessional, repealing laws on civil marriage and divorce, and establishing religious education in schools and the military.
Institutionalized Repression
The construction of the Francoist state was accompanied by extreme violence, a deliberate strategy aimed at annihilating the vanquished in the occupied territories. This occurred in places like Badajoz, Málaga, and Granada. Prominent figures, such as Federico García Lorca, were sometimes targeted. The repression was systematic and planned, carried out by the army and the Falange. Its purpose was to create a climate of terror to prevent any resistance. Thousands of people were executed and buried in mass graves, with no record of their disappearance.