UNIT 13 – Spain: the Franco dictatorship (1939-1975)

A. TRAITS OF THE DICTATORSHIP:

a. Military dictatorship
i. Elimination of freedoms, 1931 Constitution, Republican
institutions, and Statutes of Autonomy
(everything that Republicans wanted to implement)

ii. Only political party: FET and JONS (falange)

iii. Only union: Central National Syndicate (trade union controlled by the
government)

iv. Single ruler: el Caudillo with the right to appoint a successor

(he chose Juan Carlos I who returned democracy in Spain)

B. SUPPORTS OF FRANCO:
a. Army. With many privileges b. Falange
c. Catholic Church. Confessional state again.
d. Landowners and industrial bourgeoisie.

C. SYSTEM OF REPRESSION:
a. Persecution and elimination of all political opposition.

b. System of repressive laws under an apparent legality (he created laws that made legal
the persecution and oppression of Republicans)

c. 50.000 people were executed.

D. INTERNATIONAL CONTEXT:
a. Axis power support at WWII. The Blue Division was sent to fight against
Russians, helping Germany in the assault of Stalingrad

b. The regime was condemned by the United Nations in 1946

(consequence: Autarky)

c. Approach to the Vatican (because of the catholic church) and the

United States (because of its power and the fact that they could
build two military bases). (hate of communism share)
 E. AUTARKY:

2 causes:

1) Franco thought that Spain didn’t need to get products and sources from other countries
2) They were condemned by the UN because of the international isolation

a. Self-sufficiency and state intervention

i. Two reasons:
1. The same thought that Italy and Germany had
2. International isolation
b. Protectionism
i. Heavy taxes on foreign capital
ii. INI National Institute of Industry to promote local industry

CONSEQUENCES OF AUTARKY

c. Economic collapse until 1954

i. Shortages and ration cards determined the amount of goods of each family
ii. Poverty
d. The black market
i. Contraband of foreign goods (because of its rationing cards, they had to look
for some basic products in the black market)

F. WOMEN:
a. Relegation to the home. Inequality under the law.
(they had to stay at home and work as house wifes)

b. Adultery punishment (they couldn’t be unfaithful to their husband.

Prohibition of divorce

c. Women had to ask husbands for having a bank account or getting a job
G. POLITICAL REORIENTATION
a. Franco had no choice but to reorientate the policy during the 60s because he realized
Spain needed to buy things abroad

i. Stabilization Plan: International capitalism (deal with the US president).

Many foreign companies were established in Spain.

ii. Development Plans: To encourage industrialization he tried to

implement it in other parts of Spain, but he failed

iii. The consequences:

1. Huge economic growth (known as the Spanish roaring 20s)
2. Industrialization (only worked in Catalonia, Madrid, Valencia and
Vask Country)
3. Tourism and service sector

b. Franco named Juan Carlos I as the new head of state.

H. OPPOSITION:
a. 1939-1944: Maquis - Hidden Republican soldiers hidden in the inland
mountains. They formed guerrillas and fought against Franco’s tropes
with the hope that once WWII finished the Allies could liberate the
nation, but that never happened

b. From 1945: political parties in secret (PSOE, Communist,) in secret.

c. 1960-1975: university students, part of the Catholic Church, workers

d. Terrorists: ETA, a terrorist group from then Bask Country assassinated

Carrero Blanco (the Prime Minister and Franco’s Successor) in Madrid in
1973. As revenge, Franco killed some political prisoners

I. THE END OF THE DICTATORSHIP:

a. Franco dead on 20 November 1975.
b. The current democratic constitution was passed in 1978
between those years was the transition period)