Franco's Early Repression: Post-Civil War Punishments

Franco's Early Repression: A Post-Civil War Law

This document, a primary source text, was likely authored by Franco or someone within his inner circle, drafted months before the official end of the Spanish Civil War. It outlines the groups targeted for punishment due to their lack of support for Franco's uprising.

Historical Context: The Spanish Civil War

In the final moments of the Second Spanish Republic, following the "Bienio Negro" (two dark years), new elections were called for February 1936. In these elections, left-wing parties formed a large coalition known as the Popular Front, securing a victory. However, as soon as it became evident that the left-wing parties would form the government, the military decided to launch their uprising. The coup d'état failed; they did not immediately gain control of the country, thus initiating a three-year war (July 1936 to April 1939). The nation became divided between those supporting the Republic and the insurgent military, who called themselves the "Nationals."

The Dawn of Francoist Repression

After three years of fighting, the insurgent military emerged victorious. They immediately began organizing the post-war repression, an intention that had already taken root before the war's conclusion. These were among Franco's initial measures. The primary aim was not only to eliminate any political enemies but also to suppress potential political parties. Therefore, the law sought to punish anyone who had supported the Republic or left-wing ideology since 1934. This date specifically referenced the Asturian miners' strike and other revolutionary movements against right-wing governments, a period when three members of the CEDA party joined the cabinet.

The incidents of repression were particularly severe in:

• Asturias
• The Basque Country
• Catalonia

The Asturian case was well-known to Franco, as he had personally been in charge of organizing the repression of the Asturian miners.

The Single-Party State: The National Movement

The National Movement would become the sole controlling entity, primarily formed by members of the Falange. This movement would comprise members of both the army and the Falange. During Francoism, this would be the only legal political party; all other political parties were declared illegal.

Life Under Dictatorship

Legislation would always be dictated by the Head of State, Franco. There would be no democracy, no freedom, and no opportunity to belong to any political party; Spain was a dictatorship. For left-wingers, the only choice was to escape into exile. If caught, many suffered severe consequences, and many were eliminated. This marked a dramatic period for Spain, as countless individuals had to flee the country to avoid repression.