Francoist Dictatorship (1939-1975)

• The content covers the Francoist dictatorship in Spain from 1939-1975.

Creation of the New Francoist State

• Following the Republican army's defeat in the Spanish Civil War, General Francisco Franco established a dictatorship lasting until his death on November 20, 1975.
• The regime was legitimized by battlefield victory and initially involved harsh repression and the imposition of military hierarchy.
• The early dictatorship aimed to establish a fascist-based totalitarian regime.
• The 1931 Constitution was abolished, the Spanish Courts were closed, and all parties and unions except Falange Española Tradicionalista y de las JONS were made illegal.
• The regime controlled mass media and organizations.
• Besides the Falange, the Franco regime had two main pillars of support -- the Catholic Church and the army.
• The Church legitimized and regenerated Spanish society after the Republic by controlling education and social norms.
• The relationship between the Church and the Francoist State led to national Catholicism, viewing Catholic religion as essential to understanding traditional Spanish political life.
• This relationship culminated in the 1952 International Eucharistic Congress in Barcelona and the Concordat with the Holy See, regulating Spanish-Vatican relations.
• The army was rewarded with political positions and institutions.
• However, on September 8, 1943, a group of prestigious generals requested a return to genuinely Spanish forms of government, referencing the monarchy.
• Franco saw this as undisciplined.
• A strong Spanish nationalism emerged, emphasizing the unity of Spain.
• The population was expected to embrace all things Spanish, abolishing Catalan and Basque statutes, suppressing their languages and cultures.
• The regime maintained a division between victors and vanquished, suppressing any reconciliation attempts, resulting in harsh repression where Republicans were given death or long prison sentences.
• Many lost their jobs due to past leanings.
• A climate of fear was widespread, as denunciations were enough to prosecute individuals, and censorship was present.
• The regime identified enemies of Spain: Freemasonry, communism, liberalism, atheism, separatism, and democracy.
• Politically, Franco's dictatorship is divided into three distinct stages.

The Difficult Post-War Years (1939-1959)

• Franco constructed a new state structure, dismantling the Republic's work, accumulating extraordinary power as head of state, the single party (FET y de las JONS), the army, and the government.
• The new regime created new laws, leading with the 1938 Fuero del Trabajo, maintaining private ownership, promoting the economy, allowing state intervention in worker pay, and creating a new vertical union.
• The 1942 Ley Constitutiva de las Cortes referenced its functions, however, the Spanish Courts lacked legislative power and served as a body collaborating with the head of state.
• The 1945 Fuero de los Españoles outlined the rights and duties of Spaniards.
• The 1945 Ley de Referéndum Nacional facilitated popular consultations.
• The Ley de Sucesión en la Jefatura del Estado stated Spain was a kingdom once again, and Franco would choose his successor as king.
• The 1958 Ley de Principios del Movimiento Nacional, laid out the regime's principles, based on family, homeland, religion, and respect for laws.
• Internationally, only five months after Spain's Civil War ended, WWII began.
• Spain aligned with Germany and Italy, but opted for neutrality due to exhaustion by the war and a lack of resources.
• In 1940, Franco shifted to non-belligerence and discussed joining the conflict, but no agreement was reached.
• Despite this, in 1941, Spain sent volunteers called the Divisón Azul to fight against the Soviet Union.
• As the Allies gained an edge in WWII, Franco distanced Spain from the Axis powers and returned to neutrality.
• In 1945, after the Axis powers' defeat, Spain gradually distanced itself from fascism, presenting itself as a Catholic, conservative, and anti-communist nation.
• In 1946, the UN condemned the regime, France closed its border with Spain, and the UN recommended withdrawing ambassadors from Spain.
• Spain didn't benefit from the Marshall Plan and was excluded from NATO.
• After WWII, ideological differences emerged between the victorious countries.
• The United States built alliances to prevent communist regimes, seeing Franco's anti-communism as an opportunity for partnership.
• The UN reversed its condemnation in 1950, the US and Spain signed accords in 1953 -- the Pact of Madrid, and the Concordat with the Holy See was signed.
• Spain was admitted to the UN in 1955, and US President Dwight Eisenhower visited Madrid in 1959.
• The Pact of Madrid committed the US to providing economic and military assistance to Spain, and Spain allowed the construction and use of military bases and naval bases on Spanish territory.

Economy

• Spain faced devastation, leading the Franco regime to autarky.
• Autarky entailed economic self-sufficiency through isolation, state intervention, and a totalitarian plan.
• The state controlled foreign trade, imports, and exports.
• Price increases led to shortages of consumer goods.
• Food rationing was implemented until 1952 using ration books.
• A black market known as estraperlo emerged, where goods were available at high prices.
• Electricity restrictions reduced industrial production.
• The regime promoted militarily and politically independence, providing public assistance.
• The OSE (Organización Sindical Española) was created in 1940 for employers and employees under the command of Falange Española.
• Locations were named Centrales Nacional-Sindicalistas (CNS).
• The Instituto Nacional de Industria (INI) was the agency promoting industrial policy in 1941.
• The INI created public companies such as Iberia, Banco Exterior, ENDESA, ENSIDESA, ENASA, and SEAT.
• Agricultural production declined post-war, resulting in scarcity and a poor diet during this period.
• The state's economic management caused a shift of major industrial and commercial companies to Madrid.
• Autarky caused energy and raw material shortages in Catalonia.
• A notable industrial development was the installation of SEAT in Barcelona in 1953, beginning production of the Seat 600 in 1957.

Society

• Spanish society was left in exhaustion and endured harsh living conditions after the civil war with food shortages and rationing.
• Food deficits brought countrywide starvation to sectors of the population.
• Cities underwent more shortages than rural areas.
• Fraud increased, coupled with the adulteration of traded ration coupons and clandestine distribution, where illegal goods appeared, and officials were corrupt.
• Low wages lowered the standard of living, and people resorted to institutionalized charity.
• Lack of proper housing led to shantytowns and room rentals.
• The physical condition of Spaniards declined, decreasing health due to poor diets, sanitation, weather, and exhausting work conditions.
• Diseases like tuberculosis, cholera, diphtheria, and typhus reappeared, which caused a rise in mortality rates, coupled alongside an inefficient health care system.
• Low incomes were devoted to basic survival, which severely limited leisure activities.

Repression and Opposition

• With the civil war over, many Spaniards went into exile to avoid repression or stayed hidden.
• Most accepted the political situation due to fear and convenience.
• Opposition to the Franco regime was divided into internal and external.
• Approximately 440,000 people fled Spain, including military personnel, civilians, and intellectuals, whose destinations were France, Morocco, Algeria, Argentina, Chile, or Mexico.
• They were initially disarmed in French camps along sea where they faced poor conditions, with some of who weren't political, returning to Spain.
• With the start of WWII, Spanish exiles faced suspicion as communists, where 7,000 of them ended up in concentration camps like Dachau.
• The exiles joined the French resistance.
• Opposition from exile was divided.
• Attempts were made to rebuild republic institutions and create a republican government, led by Diego Martinez Barrio and José Giral.
• Monarchist sectors sought a constitutional monarchy, where Joan de Borbó called for reconciliation between the Spanish.
• Internal resistance was difficult due to repression.
• The first resistance provided personal assistance to those hiding and falsifying documents.
• Political forces tried to reconstruct groups (PSOE, PSUC, POUM, ERC...), but struggled due to conditions.
• Guerrilla warfare between 1939-1952 in Spain by maquis, were former combatants, who refused acceptance.
• Guerrillas consisted of people with mixed ideas, and dominated by anarchists and communists, who hid.
• The guerrillas occupied Vall d'Aran for 10 days, but were condemned by the movement because of repression and a lack of plans and unity.

Opposition in the 1950s

• The workers and students became protagonists of the political opposition due to bad living conditions and workers conflicts.
• There were conflicts in textiles and metallurgy in Barcelona.
• A strike took place in 1951 in response to rising tram fares, resulting in a boycott.
• A new transit strike occurred in years 1956-1957 because of the price of goods which caused 15 million pesetas in losses.
• The PCE sought a wider agreement among sectors against Franco.
• University workers in 1956-1957 held Madrid and Barcelona strikes calling for the removal of their union to be banned.
• Barcelona experienced other strikes and Asturia went on strike.
• Unions like the CNT and UGT were overtaken by the new syndicalist movement.

Repression and Opposition in Catalonia

• Repression in Catalonia was more severe than regions other than the Basque Country.
• Catalonia kept left governments and had an autonomous state through a statute.
• Franco got rid of the Catalonia Statute and all institutes dependent, as soon as he conquered Lleida in the Civil War.
• Lluís Companys was caught by the German Gestapo in France and put to death.
• Catalan names, language, and writing were all taken away from society.
• Academics were replaced at the university and institutions, while the institute for Catalonia studies were blocked.
• Intellects tried to keep culture alive in clandestine activity, while some classes resumed.
• Intellectual tried to attest for abolished culture Ariel (magazine).
• ERC faced exile, founding a national front to participate with the second world war.
• The PSUC became a convergence group for sectors of workers and a key member against oppression until Franco past away.
• A catalytic group was created by the Council of Catalan Democracy because of Jordi Pujol.
• CNT made a clandestine organization from 1943-44, then disarmed.
• Maquis operated along the Pyrenees and helped people escape to France.