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Spanish National Elections
On February 16th, 1936, Spain held its national elections. A Left-Wing political party, Popular Front, wins more than half of the nations seats, leading to military uprisings and rioting in various cities across Spain. IMAGE: Seats held during the general elections. Red; Seats won by Popular Front. Blue; Seats won by Right-Wing Nationalists. Green; Seats held by various Centre political parties. -
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Spanish Civil War & Francisco Franco's Ascension to Dictator
The Spanish Civil War was the result of the mass riots and military uprisings caused by the Popular Fronts win in February's National Elections. It lasted for two years and eight months, ending five days after Franco's Nationalist forces occupied the Spanish capital of Madrid. Franco recieved aid and 'volunteer' soldiers from Hitler's Germany and Mussolini's Fascist Italy during the war. -
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The White Terror (Francoist Repression of Opposition)
White Terror was a string of politically fuelled attacks, rapes, violent actions and crimes that occured during Franco's reign. Minorities targeted included Communists, Protestants, Liberals and Popular Front supporters amongst many others.This also included mass executions carried out by Franco's government. Towards the end of Franco's regime, these attacks and recognition of the White Terror as an everyday threat dwindled as Spaniards became more accustomed and accepting of Franco's rule. -
The 'Falange Española Tradicionalista y de las Juntas de Ofensiva Nacional Sindicalista'
On the 19th of April 1937, Franco established the 'Falange Española Tradicionalista y de las Juntas de Ofensiva Nacional Sindicalista' (FET y de las JONS) as the only legal political party in Spain. The FET y de las JONS endorsed Falangism as their political ideology, a system similar to Fascism. IMAGE: The party symbol of the FET y de las JONS. -
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Spanish Neutrality during WWII
Franco, although being ideologically alligned with Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany, opted for neutrality during World War Two. However, this did not stop some Spanish citizens from 'volunteering' to fight for either the Axis or the Allies depending on their political stance during the Spanish Civil War; pro-Republicans fought for Russia whilst Nationalists sided with Germany. -
Circa 1945 Political Prisoner Revelation
Around the mid-1940's, Franco admitted to holding 26, 000 political prisoners - all pro-Republicans from the Spanish Civil War. IMAGE: Republican prisoners during the Spanish Civil War. -
Last Civil War Concentration Camp Officially Closed
The last of Franco's concentration camps from the Civil War was officially closed on the 1st of January 1947. This camp, Miranda del Ebro, was holding Republican prisoners of war. IMAGE: A model-layout of Franco's Miranda del Ebro concentration camp. -
'Reinstation' of Spanish Monarchy
During the early months of 1947 Franco had been put under a large amount of pressure from the Spanish population to reinstate the Spanish Monarchy. Franco reinstated the monarchy but ensured solidarity of his own power with a referendum naming him Regent for life, and allowing him the right to choose his successor. -
Vatican Support & the Concordat of 1953
In a show of support, the Vatican allowed Franco the privelage of appointing a bishop. Franco, in turn, declared Roman Catholicism the national and only religion of Spain, allowed the church great influence and power in matters of curriculum, education and the running of schools, and priests and other clergy members raised above certain aspects of the law and criminal prosecution. The Catholic Church's 'embracement' of Franco contributed greatly to Spains re-appearnce on the world stage. -
Pact of Madrid
In 1953, Spain and the United States signed a 10 year defence treaty allowing the US to establish four military bases on Spanish Territory. In turn, Spain would be granted protection by the US and NATO if they were ever invaded by a foreign nation. This effectively 'opened the doors' for Spain to finally have political relations with nations who had shunned it due to its ideological support of Germany and Italy during WWII. IMAGE: Franco and US President Eisenhower in 1959. -
Spanish Entrance into the United Nations
Spain was admitted into the United Nations in 1955. IMAGE: Symbol of the United Nations, -
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Franco's 'Golden Years'
The 1960's saw a huge surge forward in Spains economic capacity and relations. However, the stability and health of the nations economic situation paralleled incredibly with Franco's own state of health and mind. This decade of relative economic success saw the rapid decline of Franco's health, prompting him in 1969 to name his heir. During this period, Franco also came to be seen less as a fascist dictator, and more as an "elder statesman". -
Naming of an Heir
Despite reintroducing the Spanish Monarchy in 1947, Franco did not name his heir until 1969. Juan Carlos, grandson of the last Spanish King, Alfonso XIII, was named heir-apparent and succeeded Franco after his death in 1975. IMAGE: Franco with Juan Carlos circa 1967. -
Franco Falls Ill
During the build up to Franco's death, the dictator was becoming ill at an alarming rate. Various ailments, Parkinsons included, saw to it that on the 19th of July 1974 Franco named his heir and eventual succesor, Juan Carlos, Acting Head of State. Franco soon recovered, however, and on July 2nd continued his leadership of the Spanish State. IMAGE: Juan Carlos in 1971, four years before the death of his mentor and predecessor Franco. -
Beginning of the End
Francisco Franco fell into a coma on the 30th of October 1975, after suffering several heart-attacks. -
Surrender of Spanish Sahara
On the 6th of November, 1975, two weeks before Franco entered a coma, Spain surrendered the Spanish Sahara to Morroco. This was Spain's last remaining colonial possesion, not only in Africa, but in the entire world. IMAGE: Yellow; The territory surrendered by Spain to Morocco. -
Death of a Dictator
On the 20th of November 1975, Franco's family made the decision to turn off the life support that had been keeping him alive for the last month. Francisco Franco died just after midnight, and was buried at the Valle de los Caídos (Valley of the Fallen) monument, which had been partially built by his political prisoners from the Civil War in honour of his fallen soldiers. IMAGE: The Valle de los Caídos monument, constructed in memory of the Nationalists who died in the Spanish Civil War. -
Ratification of the Spanish Constitution of 1978
The Spanish Constitution of 1978 marked radical changes for the Spanish state, signed by King Juan Carlos I, and marked the change from a dictatorial regime to a democracy.
