Spanish Civil War Exile & Resistance to Franco
Opposition: Exile and Resistance
Exile: In the final phase of the Spanish Civil War, more than 400,000 people who had engaged with the Republic left Spain. They fled to France through the Pyrenees, or to Northern Africa. Many refugees returned to Spain when the regime promised to take no action against those who had committed no crime, a promise that was not fulfilled. However, about 200,000 people remained in exile or returned to Spain only after Franco’s death. In France, they established a large colony of Spanish emigrants. Their situation became more difficult during the German occupation of France, which involved the persecution of Spanish exiles, branded as dangerous Communists. Consequently, many chose to emigrate to Britain and America.
In exile, a very important development of the political opposition to Franco took place. The political institutions of the Republic and the Catalan and Basque governments continued to operate in exile. Most Republican political organizations and members maintained their organization in exile, but were characterized by internal divisions and the gradual accommodation to the social reality in Spain. While some forces defended the need to create a united front and develop a diplomatic effort to force the fall of the Franco regime, others advocated for guerrilla struggle as a stage before a popular uprising.
Post-War Opposition and Resistance
After the war, opposition parties and trade unions had been completely dismantled. Their reconstruction was slow and difficult, and had to be done in absolute secrecy, dodging the ruthless police repression that constantly dislocated their organization and imprisoned their leaders. Broadly speaking, we can divide the actions of the opposition during the early Franco years into three significantly different stages:
Initial Resistance (Early Francoism): This stage was characterized by the limited performance of internal resistance, as these were the toughest times of the Franco regime. Most significant was the persistence of guerrilla activity, starring a considerable number of Republican fighters who were not resigned to defeat.
Influence of Allied Victory: The second stage was deeply influenced by the Allied victory in World War II. The potential for Allied intervention in Spain spurred the creation of platforms for unity between different opposition forces. In 1944, the most democratic sectors of the Monarchists organized around Juan de Borbón, hoping for a quick restoration of the monarchy. This led to the creation of the National Alliance of Democratic Forces, composed of Socialists, Republicans, and some members of the CNT. Other organizations pushed for attempted armed uprisings to end the Franco regime. Guerrilla bands, organized from France, entered Spain and operated mostly in rural and mountainous areas.
Reorganization and Consolidation of Franco’s Dictatorship: The third stage saw a reorganization of the opposition movement due to the demoralization caused by the consolidation of Franco’s dictatorship. Besides, Franco’s police and Civil Guard had cleared almost all political resistance at home. In the late 1940s, a timid popular protest movement began to resurface in Spain, led by the working class against poor living and working conditions. The PCE abandoned armed struggle in 1948 and focused on illegal political activity within the country. On the other hand, sectors such as the Catholic workers’ organization HOAC, created in 1946, began to raise social and labor demands. In 1946, there were disputes in the textile sector, and a general strike was held in Manresa. In 1951, a 20-cent increase in tram fare caused a widespread boycott by the population, forcing authorities to set aside the fare increases.