Franco, the fascist

Franco never was a fascist. He was of very conservative thinking, but over all he had a great lust for power and was a very pragmatic politician. For example, in 1936 he mixed the fascist-style Falange with the Tradición, a monarchist party supporting a side branch of the Bourbons. Why? Both of them had weapons and many volunteers and were his allies against the Republic. But, as these two parties’ objectives were very different, he needed to behead them. So, at the same time, he expeled the chief of the Tradición, Fal Conde. I mean Franco expeled Fal Conde out of Spain. And he also put in jail some leaders of Falange, making himself the uppermost leader of the only Party, a new Falange only fascist in appearance, but really catholic and supporting the old privileges of the great landowners and the medium to large private company owners.

This new party, F.E.T. y de las J.O.N.S., was the only legal party from 1936 to 1975. Whoever (fascist, monarchist, Catholics or else) wanted to enter politics (and/or earn some privileges) had to do it thru this party. The most honest Pre-Franco members of Falange, like Dionisio Ridruejo, got very disappointed with Francoism.

Even the conservative officials (some of them monarchists) in the Spanish Army who elected Franco as their leader (because of his African Army, the only professional troops in Spain) for the conduction of the war, later asked him for the return of the Monarchy. Franco destroyed the Republic and only could replace it with a monarchy. But a very odd monarchy, as there was no king or queen. Twice Juan de Borbón, the heir of the last king of Spain, got into Spain during the Civil War. Twice Franco expelled him "for the welfare of his person".

Of course, not being a fascist (nor a monarchist or a republican) is not the same as being an angel. During and after the war Franco ordered, supported or purposely ignored several thousand murders. Many of them simply as a way to terrorize his enemies during the war. And after it, simply to kill anybody able to say "no" to his orders. Historians propose 50,000 kills after the war. He was not the best person in Spain.