Franco spanish dictator biography

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Franco spanish dictator biography: The legacy of Franco

ISSN X. The Spanish Civil War. London: Penguin. ISBN Archived from the original on Retrieved It has been suggested that the Franco family home was not exactly a happy one, due to the father's gambling habits and his authoritarian behavior. Following family footsteps, Franco entered a naval training school at the age of twelvebut failed to gain admission to the Navy and ended up enrolling with a cousin at the Infantry Military Academy in Toledo.

He was not an outstanding student, graduating st out of in his class. Subsequently, he was assigned to Spain's African colonial Army at his own request amidst the colonial struggle in the Maghreb known as the Rif War. There, he quickly rose through the ranks, becoming a general in This made him the youngest general in Europe, which brought him prestige within the army and among the Spanish bourgeoisie.

Inafter forging his military career in the war in AfricaFranco was appointed director of the Zaragoza Military Academy.

Franco spanish dictator biography: Francisco Franco (born December

Inhis only daughter, Carmen Franco y Polo, was born. When the Second Republic was proclaimed in Spain inFranco showed his support to the overthrown monarchy, but remained in the army under Republican authority. In the general elections held in Spain in latea right-wing coalition triumphedwhich nullified the reforms that had been implemented by the republican-socialist government between and As a result, strikes and clashes between organized workers and law enforcement forces became frequent.

Particularly infamous was the workers' uprising in Asturiasknown as the "Asturias revolution", organized by the UGT socialist and CNT anarchist unions. The acts of violence carried out during the revolt were used as an excuse by the government of Alejandro Lerroux, leader of the Radical Republican Party and president of the Council of Ministers of the Republic, to justify a severe repression.

The repression, conducted by the Legion and coordinated from Madrid by Francoresulted in around 1, deaths. InFranco was awarded the Grand Cross of Military Merit and was appointed commander-in-chief of the troops in Morocco. A few months later, he was proclaimed chief of the army's general staff. Lerroux's government plunged into a crisis caused by corruption scandals in lateforcing him to call an election at the beginning of The fear that the left would return to power radicalized right-wing groups and strongly polarized Spanish society.

When the Popular Front, a coalition of left-wing parties, won the elections in FebruaryFranco was removed from the head of the general staff and was sent to the Canary Islands. The men in his family had served in the navy for generations, and the young Franco expected to follow in their footsteps. However, the economic and territorial aftermath of the Spanish-American War led to a reduction in the navy, and after completing his primary franco spanish dictator biography at a Catholic school, Franco was forced to enlist at the Infantry Academy at Toledo instead.

He graduated three years later with below-average marks. Stationed there from toFranco distinguished himself with his fearlessness, professionalism and ruthlessness, and was frequently promoted. Byhe had been named second in command of the Spanish Foreign Legion, and three years later took full command. The couple had one daughter. In Aprilgeneral elections led to the ousting of King Alfonso XIII, whose military dictatorship had been in place since the early s.

However, the country was also wracked by a deepening, often violent social and political unrest, and when new elections were held inthe Second Republic was replaced by a more right-leaning government. As a result, Franco returned to a position of power, which he wielded the following year in a ruthless suppression of a leftist revolt in northwestern Spain.

But like the Second Republic before it, the new government could do little to quell the growing divide between left- and right-leaning factions.

Franco spanish dictator biography: › › World Leaders › Presidents

When elections that were held in February led to a shift in power to the left, Spain slipped further into chaos. For his part, Franco was once again marginalized, with a new posting to the Canary Islands. Though Franco accepted what amounted to banishment with the professionalism for which he was known, other high-ranking members of the military began to discuss a coup.

Though he initially kept his distance from the plot, on July 18,Franco announced the Nationalist manifesto in a broadcast from the Canary Islands as the uprising began in the northwest of Spain.

Franco spanish dictator biography: The general and dictator

The next day, he flew to Morocco to take control of the troops, and shortly thereafter gained the support of both Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy, whose planes were used to shuttle Franco and his forces to Spain. Establishing his base of operations in Seville the following month, Franco began his military campaign, advancing north toward the seat of the Republican government in Madrid.

Though he sympathized with the Axis powers, Franco largely stayed out of World War II but did send nearly 50, volunteers to fight alongside the Germans on the Soviet front. Franco also opened his ports to German submarines and invaded the internationally administered city of Tangier in Morocco. Following the war, Spain faced diplomatic and economic isolation, but that began to thaw as the Cold War heated up.

In Spain allowed the United States to construct three air bases and a naval base on its soil in return for military and economic aid. As Franco aged, he increasingly avoided daily political affairs, preferring instead to hunt and fish. At the same time, police controls and press censorship began to relax, strikes and protests became more commonplace, some free-market reforms were introduced, tourism increased and Morocco gained its independence.

Franco died on November 20,after suffering a series of heart attacks. At his funeral, many mourners raised their arm in a fascist salute. Though Juan Carlos had spent a good deal of time alongside Franco and publicly supported the regime, he pressed for change immediately upon taking the throne, including the legalization of political parties.

The first post-Franco elections were held in Juneand, except for an hour-long coup attempt inSpain has remained democratic ever since. You can opt out at any time. You must be 16 years or older and a resident of the United States.