Francisco Franco was born in Ferrol, Spain on December 4, 1892. As a young man, he served as an officer in the Spanish military. He came from a family of Spanish Navy members however he was not able to join the Navy after reduction in admissions to the Navy after the Spanish American War.

Spanish Army Coat of Arms | Source: Wikimedia

Early Beginnings

In 1912 Francisco Franco volunteered to serve in the Colonial Army in Morocco, Franco participated in the Rif War. This was a conflict between Spain and native tribesmen in northern Morocco that lasted from 1921-26. Franco demonstrated his fighting skills by leading an assault against local tribes. In 1936 a military uprising would see a new ascension to power and the beginning of the Spanish Civil war. In a short matter of time Franco became commander-in-chief of the Nationalist Army and head of state.

Francisco Franco & His Brother Ramon | Source: Wikimedia

Life Under Franco

After the Spanish Civil War, Franco ruled Spain as a dictator until his death. During his rule, he created a totalitarian state that suppressed dissent and banned political parties. He also established a cult of personality around himself that was similar to those of Hitler and Stalin. Franco’s regime executed or imprisoned many people who opposed him; it is estimated that up to 200,000 were killed during this time period.

Spanish Flag Under Franco | Source: Wikimedia

Under Franco, Spain was a one-party dictatorship under a fascist regime. Franco wished to create an authoritarian state that could serve as a model for other countries in Europe and throughout the world.

Francoist Demonstration | Source: Wikimedia

Franco’s approach to economics was in many ways at odds with the rest of Europe. In contrast to his fascist allies, Franco’s economic policy was largely free-market oriented. He abolished capital controls, lowered trade barriers and removed restrictions on international currency transactions. As a result, the Spanish economy improved as Franco created stability and prosperity in post-war Spain.

Spain Economic Growth Under Franco | Source: Wikimedia

Death of Francisco Franco

On November 20, 1975, Franco died from heart disease at the age of 82 and was buried in The Valley of the Fallen. His successor as head of state was King Juan Carlos I, who undid all of Franco’s policies and brought back political parties.

Francisco Franco & Juan Carlos | Source: Wikipedia

In conclusion, Francisco Franco was a complicated man. On one hand, he was a brutal dictator who ruled over Spain with an iron fist for nearly 40 years. But on the other hand, he also ushered in an era of stability and prosperity for his country. We hope that this article has given you some insight into the history behind Franco’s rise to power as well as how it impacted Spain today.

Francisco Franco: Dictator of Spain Album | Source: Banknote World

The Francisco Franco album contains five coins and one banknote. The five coins and one banknote were issued during the regime of Francisco Franco, the “last surviving fascist dictator” in Europe at the end of the Second World War. Franco became both the Prime Minister and Head of State of Spain from October 1936 to his death in November 1975. The coins in the album include a 1938 25 centimo coin, a 1959 10 centimo coin, a 1967 50 centimo coin, a 1958 5 pesetas coin, and also a 1967 1 peseta coin. The banknote included in the set is a 1970 100 pesetas note.

Spain 5,000 Pesetas Banknote, 1979 Ft. King Juan Carlos I | Source: Banknote World

***Information presented in this post is only for educational purposes.

Sources:

https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/francisco-franco

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Francisco-Franco/Francos-dictatorship

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