Spain Under Franco: A Totalitarian Regime (1939-1975)

Posted on Mar 14, 2025 in History

Spain: Franco’s Dictatorship

1. The Francoist Regime

Franco imposed a totalitarian regime similar to Hitler’s Germany and Mussolini’s Italy. While the Axis powers fell after World War II, Francoism persisted until 1975 with Franco’s death.

1.1. Ideological Foundations

Franco’s regime was opposed to Communism, Socialism, and the ideology of the Second Republic. Its ideological foundations were:

  • Fascism: Represented by the Falange. Power was concentrated in a single person, Franco (El Caudillo). Fascist symbols included the salute, paramilitary uniforms, and the emblem of the yoke and arrows.
  • National-Catholicism: The Catholic Church considered the Civil War a crusade against Marxist atheism. The state declared Spain a Catholic country, and practicing and teaching Catholicism was compulsory. The Church enjoyed special privileges.
  • Traditionalism: The historical model of Habsburg Imperial Spain was followed. Liberalism and the ideas of the Enlightenment were considered the cause of Spain’s decline.
  • National Unity: Statutes of autonomy were abolished. Expressions of decentralized nationalism (language or flags) were prohibited. Military parades, hymns, and the exaltation of the national flag were encouraged.

1.2. Internal Support

  • Politically, Franco had the support of the Falange (the fascist party, responsible for propaganda), the military establishment, the Catholic Church, and initially, the monarchists, who hoped he would reestablish the monarchy.
  • Socially, the regime had the support of landowners, businessmen, and financiers.
  • As the economic situation improved, part of the middle and working classes accepted the lack of freedom in exchange for improved living conditions.

1.3. The Evolution of the Regime

  • 1939-1959: The dictatorship was imposed through strict laws and military control. Spain had to survive without foreign aid, leading to isolation from the international community.
  • 1959-1975: Spain began to establish relations with other countries. The economic situation improved, but the political system remained outdated. Opposition grew in the final years of the dictatorship.

2. The Political Situation Between 1939 and 1959

2.1. A Totalitarian Regime

Franco (1939-1942) held the following positions:

  • Head of State
  • Supreme Commander of the Army
  • Intervened in Legislation

There was a single political organization, the Movimiento Nacional, composed of:

  • A single “vertical” trade union.
  • Government public offices.
  • Falange Española Tradicionalista y de las JONS (the sole political party).

There was no constitution. The political system was regulated by the Leyes Fundamentales (Fundamental Laws). For example, the Fuero del Trabajo regulated labor legislation and created the Sindicato Vertical, where employers and workers were grouped together by their type of work.

2.2. “Organic Democracy”

As totalitarian regimes in Europe neared defeat in World War II, Spain adopted “Organic Democracy,” creating the appearance of democracy without any democratic practices. Key laws included:

  1. Ley de Cortes (1942): Reestablished the parliament, but only as a consultative institution. It passed all laws dictated by Franco.
  2. Fuero de los Españoles (1945): A declaration of rights and duties.
  3. Ley de Sucesión (1947): Described Spain as a kingdom but allowed Franco to rule until his death and to appoint a successor.
  4. Ley de Principios del Movimiento Nacional (1958): A summary of Francoist laws.