Franco's Spain: Regime, Pillars, Repression (1939-1959)

The Franco Regime: 1939-1959

The Franco dictatorship, which began after the Civil War, had several characteristics: totalitarianism, inspired by the Italian fascist model; warlordism, with Franco as Caudillo of Spain, Head of State, Prime Minister, Generalissimo of all armies, and national party chief; a unitary and centralist conception of the state; the repression of opposition; and control of the media.

Pillars of the Regime

The main pillars of the Franco regime were the army, the single party (Falange Española Tradicionalista y de las JONS, or FET de las JONS), and the Catholic Church.

• The army was the most significant support of the regime and actively participated in power, as most ministers and provincial governors were military personnel.
• The single party, FET de las JONS, provided the regime with an ideological basis, controlled the media, and supplied many officials of the administration.
• The Church had a significant role in building the system, since Spain was declared a Catholic confessional state. In exchange for this support, the Church received generous public funding (in 1939, the budget for "worship and clergy" was reinstated), control of the education system, and the predominance of Catholic values and morals throughout Spanish society.

Institutionalized Repression

Moreover, while the end of the war meant the cessation of large-scale violence, repression became institutionalized. A series of laws and decrees were developed. Government dictates became more powerful than justice, and the independent judiciary disappeared. The first major repressive law was the Law of Political Responsibilities (1939), which targeted individuals who had supported the Republic in any way. In 1940, the Law for the Suppression of Communism and Masonry was added, allowing proceedings against those accused of holding ideas contrary to the regime. In terms of figures, it is estimated that approximately 150,000 people were executed for political reasons, including 50,000 during the war.

Impact on Regional Nationalisms

Franco's victory had particular consequences in Catalonia, the Basque Country, and Galicia, whose nationalisms were seen as contrary to the principle of Spanish unity. Therefore, all demonstrations were banned, as were cultural expressions in non-Castilian languages that could serve as a basis for maintaining nationalist attitudes. Catalan, Basque, and Galician were considered mere dialects, unsuitable for public life, particularly administration and professional practice. Throughout 1939, numerous regulations were published that banned these languages from education, public administration, the media (press, radio, etc.), business, and even public entertainment.