Francisco Franco was the General and leader of the Nationalists who overthrew the democratic republic of Spain during the country's civil war from 1936-39. After the revolution Franco was named Generalissimo and Head of State of Spain, which he remained until his death in 1975. During the civil war and his time in power Francisco Franco used propaganda and censorship to maintain his image and a cult of personality. Franco developed his mythical status among the Spanish population using lessons from Hitler and Mussolini, also fascists, and the tactics they used previously to produce their own personality cults.
In 1939, Franco became dictator of Spain. His rule was law. During World War 2, Franco allied himself with Fascist Hitler and made many of his laws based on Hitler’s ruling. Franco’s Spain displayed all the usual characteristics of a right wing dictatorship. All opposition was ruthlessly dealt with; the nation had to endure the activities of a secret police force; all the aspects of politics that would have been taken for granted in Europe, such as fair elections and political opposition, were not tolerated in Franco’s Spain. In July 1947, a law was passed that made Franco head of state for life.
Opposition did occur. Students protested about a lack of personal freedom. The leaders of the Roman Catholic Church also complained about his dictatorship and Basque separatists were a constant problem.
In 1931 the Second Republic of Spain, made up primarily of leftists and centrists, took power. The new republic enacted reforms that broke up the feudal system and reduced the size of the military. These changes along with a number of anticlerical acts created resentment among the former elite. In the 1933 election the political right gained a large number of seats in the legislature and as a result a revolutionary movement among the left was created. This led to a split among the Spanish population between those that supported the Republicans and those that supported the Nationalists.
Much like Hitler and Mussolini before him, Franco strictly controlled and influenced public opinion in order to coerce support of his policies based on unwavering support of his mythical image. During Francisco Franco's rise to power and subsequent rule he used several different media outlets to spread his desired image as a enigmatic and powerful leader of great military prowess. Franco took advice from both Hitler and Mussolini and showed that he could successfully take full control of his people and stay in power till death. Francisco Franco was the Spanish leader for 36 years,and he knew he had complete power of his people for life; his people were his zombies so to speak.
In 1939, Franco became dictator of Spain. His rule was law. During World War 2, Franco allied himself with Fascist Hitler and made many of his laws based on Hitler’s ruling. Franco’s Spain displayed all the usual characteristics of a right wing dictatorship. All opposition was ruthlessly dealt with; the nation had to endure the activities of a secret police force; all the aspects of politics that would have been taken for granted in Europe, such as fair elections and political opposition, were not tolerated in Franco’s Spain. In July 1947, a law was passed that made Franco head of state for life.
Opposition did occur. Students protested about a lack of personal freedom. The leaders of the Roman Catholic Church also complained about his dictatorship and Basque separatists were a constant problem.
In 1931 the Second Republic of Spain, made up primarily of leftists and centrists, took power. The new republic enacted reforms that broke up the feudal system and reduced the size of the military. These changes along with a number of anticlerical acts created resentment among the former elite. In the 1933 election the political right gained a large number of seats in the legislature and as a result a revolutionary movement among the left was created. This led to a split among the Spanish population between those that supported the Republicans and those that supported the Nationalists.
Much like Hitler and Mussolini before him, Franco strictly controlled and influenced public opinion in order to coerce support of his policies based on unwavering support of his mythical image. During Francisco Franco's rise to power and subsequent rule he used several different media outlets to spread his desired image as a enigmatic and powerful leader of great military prowess. Franco took advice from both Hitler and Mussolini and showed that he could successfully take full control of his people and stay in power till death. Francisco Franco was the Spanish leader for 36 years,and he knew he had complete power of his people for life; his people were his zombies so to speak.