Spain Under Franco: Repression, Recovery, and Change (1939-1975)

Spain Under Franco: Repression, Recovery, and Change

The Francoist dictatorship can be broadly divided into two distinct periods.

Initial Isolation and Repression (1939-1950s)

From 1939 until the 1950s, Spain experienced significant isolation from most Western countries due to its dictatorial regime. This era was marked by intense repression, with many political prisoners still incarcerated.

Shifting Alliances and Economic Opening (1950s-1970s)

In the 1950s, the United States sought closer ties with Spain, recognizing its anti-communist stance and strategic position for controlling the Mediterranean Sea.

Economic Growth and Social Transformation

By the 1960s, Spain began to emerge as a tourist attraction, though it wasn't until the 1970s that tourism truly boomed, largely due to affordable flights. Concurrently, the late 1950s and 1960s saw significant industrial growth, prompting a migration of people from rural areas to urban industrial centers, such as the Basque Country.

Political Dissent and the Regime's End

It is also important to note that in 1959, ETA (Euskadi Ta Askatasuna) was founded, seeking independence for the Basque Country. In 1973, ETA assassinated the President of the Spanish government, Carrero Blanco. In 1975, two members of ETA and three members of the FRAP (a radical left-wing group) were executed by the Spanish government. Finally, on November 20, 1975, Franco died.

Pillars of Control and Society Under Franco

NODO: Propaganda Through Cinema

NODO is an acronym for Noticiarios y Documentales (Newsreels and Documentaries). NODOs were short documentaries screened in cinemas before feature films, primarily serving as propaganda for the Francoist regime.

The Succession: Dictatorship to Monarchy

In 1969, Juan Carlos de Borbón was named by Franco as his successor. Upon Franco's death on November 20, 1975, Juan Carlos de Borbón became King, thereby restoring the monarchy in Spain.

Religion: The Dominant Catholic Church

The only religion permitted was Catholicism. The Catholic Church exerted significant control over education, social life, and moral issues throughout the country.

Language Suppression: The Basque Experience

Spanish was the sole official language in Spain, relegating Basque to home use. Individuals could even be fined for speaking Basque in public, and all formal education was conducted exclusively in Spanish. However, in the late 1950s and 1960s, some people began sending their children to clandestine schools known as ikastolas, where instruction was entirely in Basque.

Women's Role in Francoist Spain

Both the Catholic Church and the Sección Femenina of the Falange (the Spanish fascist party) dictated the lives of women. Women were largely expected to remain at home, managing household duties and childcare, and preparing for their husbands' return from work. While many women also worked in factories, they typically received significantly lower wages than men for performing the same tasks.

Persecution of Social Groups

It goes without saying that homosexuality was against the law and homosexuals were persecuted b