Franco's Nationalist Zone: Power, Economy, and Repression in the Spanish Civil War

The Nationalist Zone: Power, Economy, and Repression

Establishing Control: The National Defense Council

In the rebel zone, military hegemony was quickly established to avoid political confrontation, which could have had a negative effect during the war. Quedó formed the National Defense Council, a body responsible for administering the territories under insurgent control. Its president was General Cabanellas. Las decisions were the responsibility of the commanding generals of the various occupied zones: Emilio Mola in the North, Gonzalo Queipo de Llano in Andalusia, and Francisco Franco in Morocco. Franco's prestige was rising due to his good relations with Hitler's Germany.

Franco's Ascent and Centralized Power

The death of General José Sanjurjo had initially foiled plans to secure a single command. For the military, this unification was a top priority to achieve efficiency. Franco emerged as the most popular figure among the generals and was named Generalissimo of the Army and Head of the Spanish Government; i.e., he concentrated all political and military power in one person. A Technical Board of Governors was constituted in Burgos, but the true center of power was at Franco's headquarters in Salamanca.

Economic Strategy of the Nationalist Zone

The rebels initially lacked control of industrial areas, and their economic potential was based on their dominance of the main agricultural centers. This circumstance, a priori, made their economic viability seem difficult. However, in practice, it was not as problematic: control of agriculture and lower population pressure allowed them to gradually incorporate mining and industrial areas as the war progressed. Furthermore, Franco had the unconditional support of Germany and Italy. The overwhelming contributions from the country's national economic elites also provided significant support.

Abolition of Republican Reforms and Political Unification

In the nationalist zone, measures of the Second Republic were abolished. Basque and Catalan autonomies were revoked, land reform was repealed, individual liberties were suppressed, and women's roles were largely limited to tasks related to healthcare. Ramón Serrano Suñer was responsible for unifying the various political factions.

• Carlismo and Falange Española were unified into a single political entity. The legacy of the main Falangist leader, José Antonio Primo de Rivera, was key to this maneuver.
• The most important parties of the Republican right, such as Renovación Española and CEDA, were dissolved, and their members integrated into the National Movement.
• Franco also had the unwavering support of the Catholic Church, a traditional opponent of the Republic.

Systematic Repression in Rebel Territories

When Emilio Mola masterminded the coup, he stated the need for it to be carried out with extreme harshness to annihilate any future opposition. The consequence was the institutionalization of systematic repression in the rebel zone, targeting every individual suspected of sympathizing with the Republic. Detainees, if not immediately executed, were put on trial without due process and often sentenced to death.