cleanup ← Previous revision Revision as of 15:12, 20 October 2009 Line 52: Line 52: |military_data5 = |military_data5 = }} }} - '''Francisco Franco Bahamonde'''(4 December 1892 in ((Ferrol)) – 20 November 1975 in ((Madrid))), commonly known as '''Francisco Franco''' ({{IPA-es |fɾanˈθisko ˈfɾaŋko}}), or simply '''Franco''', was a military general and ((dictator)) of ((Spain)) from October 1936, and ''de facto'' ((regent)) of the nominally restored ((Kingdom of Spain)) from 1947 until his death in 1975. Franco used the title ''Caudillo de España, por la gracia de Dios'' from 1936 onwards, meaning, ''Leader of Spain, ((by the grace of God))''. During his almost forty year reign, Franco's governance went through various different phases, although the most common ideological features present throughout included a strong sense of ((Spanish nationalism)) and protection of the country's territorial integrity, ((Catholicism)), ((anti-communism)) and ((traditional values)).<ref>{{cite book | last = Hakim | first = Joy | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = A History of Us: War, Peace and all that Jazz | publisher = Oxford University Press | year = 1995 | location = New York | pages = | url = | doi = | id = | isbn = 0-19-509514-6 }}</ref> + '''Francisco Franco Bahamonde'''(4 December 1892 in ((Ferrol)) – 20 November 1975 in ((Madrid))), commonly known as '''Francisco Franco''' ({{IPA-es |fɾanˈθisko ˈfɾaŋko}}), or simply '''Franco''', was a military general and ((dictator)) of ((Spain)) from October 1936, and ''de facto'' ((regent)) of the nominally restored ((Kingdom of Spain)) from 1947 until his death in 1975. Franco used the title ''Caudillo de España, por la gracia de Dios'' from 1936 onwards, meaning, ''Leader of Spain, ((by the grace of God))''. During his almost forty year reign, Franco's governance went through various different phases, although the most common ideological features present throughout included a strong sense of ((Spanish nationalism)) and protection of the country's territorial integrity, ((Catholicism)), ((anti-communism)) and ((traditional values)).<ref>{{cite book |last = Hakim |first = Joy |title = A History of Us: War, Peace and all that Jazz |publisher = Oxford University Press |year = 1995 |location = New York |isbn = 0-19-509514-6}}</ref> From a military family, Franco originally set out for a career in the ((Spanish Navy)). However, the navy had reduced in size since Spain had lost much of its empire, so he became a soldier instead. During the early period of his career he fought in ((Spanish Morocco|Morocco)) during the ((Rif War (1920)|Rif War)), rising to the position of general. Afterwards he was stationed on the Spanish mainland and saw service suppressing an anarchist-led ((Anarchism in Spain#Asturias|strike in 1934)); defending the stability of ((Niceto Alcalá-Zamora|Alcalá-Zamora))'s conservative ((Second Spanish Republic|republican government)). Everything changed in 1936 with the election of the ((Popular Front (Spain)|Popular Front)), a far left coalition of socialists, communists, anarchists and liberal republicans. A period of severe instability ensued, with escalating violence and distrust between supporters of each side. ((Anti-clericalism|Anti-clerical)) violence against the Church by leftist militants raised tensions. After the assassination of ((José Calvo Sotelo)), by a commando unit of the ((Guardia de Asalto|Assault Guards))—the military felt a communist dictatorship was nearing. Franco and the military participated in a ''((coup d'état))'' against the Popular Front government. From a military family, Franco originally set out for a career in the ((Spanish Navy)). However, the navy had reduced in size since Spain had lost much of its empire, so he became a soldier instead. During the early period of his career he fought in ((Spanish Morocco|Morocco)) during the ((Rif War (1920)|Rif War)), rising to the position of general. Afterwards he was stationed on the Spanish mainland and saw service suppressing an anarchist-led ((Anarchism in Spain#Asturias|strike in 1934)); defending the stability of ((Niceto Alcalá-Zamora|Alcalá-Zamora))'s conservative ((Second Spanish Republic|republican government)). Everything changed in 1936 with the election of the ((Popular Front (Spain)|Popular Front)), a far left coalition of socialists, communists, anarchists and liberal republicans. A period of severe instability ensued, with escalating violence and distrust between supporters of each side. ((Anti-clericalism|Anti-clerical)) violence against the Church by leftist militants raised tensions. After the assassination of ((José Calvo Sotelo)), by a commando unit of the ((Guardia de Asalto|Assault Guards))—the military felt a communist dictatorship was nearing. Franco and the military participated in a ''((coup d'état))'' against the Popular Front government. Line 58: Line 58: The coup failed and devolved into the ((Spanish Civil War)) during which Franco emerged as the leader of the Nationalists against the Popular Front government. After winning the civil war with support from ((Benito Mussolini))'s Italy and ((Adolf Hitler))'s Germany—while the ((Soviet Union)) provided help to the Popular Party—he dissolved the Spanish Parliament. He then established a ((right-wing)) ((authoritarian)) regime that lasted until 1978, when a new constitution was drafted. During the Second World War, Franco officially maintained a policy of non-belligerency and later of neutrality. However, he agreed to allow the many Spanish ((volunteer))s, known as the ((Blue Division)) to join the ((German Army)) in the fight against Communism on the ((Eastern Front (World War II)|Eastern Front)). The coup failed and devolved into the ((Spanish Civil War)) during which Franco emerged as the leader of the Nationalists against the Popular Front government. After winning the civil war with support from ((Benito Mussolini))'s Italy and ((Adolf Hitler))'s Germany—while the ((Soviet Union)) provided help to the Popular Party—he dissolved the Spanish Parliament. He then established a ((right-wing)) ((authoritarian)) regime that lasted until 1978, when a new constitution was drafted. During the Second World War, Franco officially maintained a policy of non-belligerency and later of neutrality. However, he agreed to allow the many Spanish ((volunteer))s, known as the ((Blue Division)) to join the ((German Army)) in the fight against Communism on the ((Eastern Front (World War II)|Eastern Front)). - After the end of World War II, Franco maintained his control in Spain through the implementation of peace measures: the systematic suppression of dissident views through ((censorship)) and ((coercion)),<ref>Sinova, J. La censura de prensa durante el franquismo/ The Media Censorship During Franco Regime. Random House Mondadori. ISBN 848346134X.</ref><ref>Lázaro, A. James Joyce's encounters with Spanish censorship, 1939-1966. Joyce Studies Annual, 1 Jan, 2001.</ref> the institutionalization of torture,<ref>casanova, J. "Setenta años de la victoria de Franco" http://www.elpais.com/articulo/opinion/Setenta/anos/victoria/Franco/elpepuopi/20090329elpepiopi_5/Tes</ref> the imprisonment of ideological enemies in concentration camps throughout the country (such as ''Los Merinales'' in Seville, ''San Marcos'' in León, ''Castuera'' in Extremadura, and ''Miranda de Ebro'')<ref> Rodrigo, J. "Cautivos: Campos de concentración en la España franquista, 1936-1947", Editorial Crítica.</ref> , the implementation of forced labor in prisons<ref> Gastón Aguas, J. M. & Mendiola Gonzalo, F. (eds.) "Los trabajos forzados en la dictadura franquista: Bortxazko lanak diktadura frankistan." ISBN 978-84-611-8354-8</ref> and the use of the death penalty and heavy prison sentences as deterrents for his ideological enemies<ref> Duva, J. "Octavio Alberola, jefe de los libertarios ajusticiados en 1963, regresa a España para defender su inocencia" Diario El País, 9 November 1998</ref> . During the ((Cold War)), the ((United States)) established a diplomatic alliance with Spain, due to Franco's strong anti-Communist policy. American President ((richard nixon)) toasted Franco,<ref>John T. Woolley and Gerhard Peters, (http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=2693 Toasts of the President and General Francisco Franco of Spain at a State Dinner in Madrid), The American Presidency Project. Santa Barbara, California: University of California (hosted), Gerhard Peters (database). Accessed online 24 May 2008.</ref> and, after Franco's death, stated: "General Franco was a loyal friend and ally of the United States<ref>New York Times. "nixon Asserts Franco Won Respect for Spain." November 21, 1975, Friday, page 16.</ref> ." After his death Spain gradually began its ((Spanish transition to democracy|transition to democracy)). Today, pre-constitutional symbols from the Franco regime (such as the national flag with the Imperial Eagle) are banned by law in Spain. + After the end of World War II, Franco maintained his control in Spain through the implementation of peace measures: the systematic suppression of dissident views through ((censorship)) and ((coercion)),<ref>Sinova, J. La censura de prensa durante el franquismo/ The Media Censorship During Franco Regime. Random House Mondadori. ISBN 848346134X.</ref><ref>Lázaro, A. James Joyce's encounters with Spanish censorship, 1939-1966. Joyce Studies Annual, 1 Jan, 2001.</ref> the institutionalization of torture,<ref>casanova, J. "Setenta años de la victoria de Franco" http://www.elpais.com/articulo/opinion/Setenta/anos/victoria/Franco/elpepuopi/20090329elpepiopi_5/Tes</ref> the imprisonment of ideological enemies in concentration camps throughout the country (such as ''Los Merinales'' in Seville, ''San Marcos'' in León, ''Castuera'' in Extremadura, and ''Miranda de Ebro'') , <ref> Rodrigo, J. "Cautivos: Campos de concentración en la España franquista, 1936-1947", Editorial Crítica.</ref> the implementation of forced labor in prisons , <ref> Gastón Aguas, J. M. & Mendiola Gonzalo, F. (eds.) "Los trabajos forzados en la dictadura franquista: Bortxazko lanak diktadura frankistan." ISBN 978-84-611-8354-8</ref> and the use of the death penalty and heavy prison sentences as deterrents for his ideological enemies . <ref> Duva, J. "Octavio Alberola, jefe de los libertarios ajusticiados en 1963, regresa a España para defender su inocencia" Diario El País, 9 November 1998</ref> During the ((Cold War)), the ((United States)) established a diplomatic alliance with Spain, due to Franco's strong anti-Communist policy. American President ((richard nixon)) toasted Franco,<ref>John T. Woolley and Gerhard Peters, (http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=2693 Toasts of the President and General Francisco Franco of Spain at a State Dinner in Madrid), The American Presidency Project. Santa Barbara, California: University of California (hosted), Gerhard Peters (database). Accessed online 24 May 2008.</ref> and, after Franco's death, stated: "General Franco was a loyal friend and ally of the United States ." <ref>New York Times. "nixon Asserts Franco Won Respect for Spain." November 21, 1975, Friday, page 16.</ref> After his death Spain gradually began its ((Spanish transition to democracy|transition to democracy)). Today, pre-constitutional symbols from the Franco regime (such as the national flag with the Imperial Eagle) are banned by law in Spain.   + ==Early life== ==Early life== ((File:Pedro Fernandez de Castro, VII Count of Lemos.jpg|thumb|right|Through his mother, Franco was descended from Pedro Fernández de Castro, VII Count of Lemos.))Francisco Franco was born on 4 December 1892, in ((El Ferrol)), ((Galicia)), which is Spain's chief naval base in the north. The Franco family was originally from ((Andalucia)) and are thought to have a degree of aristocratic ancestry.{{#tag:ref|After Franco allowed Sephardi Jews to seek refuge in Spain, from areas where National Socialism was dominant; ((urban legend)) appeared as a form derision claiming that the Francos were of Sephardi ancestry. However as scholar ((Stanley G. Payne)) explains; "Persistent rumours about Franco's alleged Jewish ancestry have no clear foundation, and Harry S May, ''Francisco Franco: The Jewish Connection'' is somewhat fanciful". And futhermore that, "A significant portion of the Spanish and Portugese populations have some remote Jewish ancestry; if this were true of Franco he would simply be in the position of millions of other Spaniards."|group=note}} Since relocating to Galicia they were strongly involved in the ((Spanish Navy)) and over two centuries produced naval officers for six generations uninterrupted, right down to Franco's father Nicolás Franco y Salgado. ((File:Pedro Fernandez de Castro, VII Count of Lemos.jpg|thumb|right|Through his mother, Franco was descended from Pedro Fernández de Castro, VII Count of Lemos.))Francisco Franco was born on 4 December 1892, in ((El Ferrol)), ((Galicia)), which is Spain's chief naval base in the north. The Franco family was originally from ((Andalucia)) and are thought to have a degree of aristocratic ancestry.{{#tag:ref|After Franco allowed Sephardi Jews to seek refuge in Spain, from areas where National Socialism was dominant; ((urban legend)) appeared as a form derision claiming that the Francos were of Sephardi ancestry. However as scholar ((Stanley G. Payne)) explains; "Persistent rumours about Franco's alleged Jewish ancestry have no clear foundation, and Harry S May, ''Francisco Franco: The Jewish Connection'' is somewhat fanciful". And futhermore that, "A significant portion of the Spanish and Portugese populations have some remote Jewish ancestry; if this were true of Franco he would simply be in the position of millions of other Spaniards."|group=note}} Since relocating to Galicia they were strongly involved in the ((Spanish Navy)) and over two centuries produced naval officers for six generations uninterrupted, right down to Franco's father Nicolás Franco y Salgado.