Franco in the Post-War Era

So what happened to Francisco Franco post-World War II? The Hourly History book continues into that phase. A man and a nation that could have been international pariahs instead traded on their anti-communist sentiments:

“The pact stipulated the United States would provide Spain with financial and military aid as long as Spain allowed them to create American military bases and station troops on Spanish soil.”

 

In 1956, Morocco gained independence. It was a huge blow to Spain, setting of something like an identity crisis. Which in turn triggered student protests all over the country. What did the country stand for? Where was it headed? What plans did the government have? Franco buckled under the pressure:

“(He was) showing a willingness for political change, even if he was not completely willing to step down from power.”

Even while he wouldn’t step down, he still made structural changes in government that in turn led to reforms in “foreign investment, industrialization, education, and urbanization”.

 

Yet, despite all those (genuine) measures, the financial situation of Spain worsened, going into a “complete tailspin”. Franco recognized that he needed to find new ways to bring in money:

“(Franco) exchanged his soldier’s uniform for that of a tour guide. Yes, it was not bullets and bombs that would save Spain: it would be wave upon wave of bikini-clad tourists.”

The chain effect that tourism set off is now called the “Spanish Miracle” – Spain’s GDP went from $12 billion to $76 billion in 15 years. The original reforms and restructuring had brought in younger people, many with new ideas…

 

Yet, despite the economic success, Spain was not allowed into the EEC (the predecessor of the EU) since it was a “no dictators” club. A gloomy Franco took longer and longer vacations. That allowed his ministers to make more and more decisions, and they ensured Franco’s trips were always “memorable ones”!

 

But as Franco grew older, the question arose: who’d succeed him? While Franco had always said he wanted the monarchy to return, he never took any steps in that direction. Sure, he’d set up a “long grooming process” for Juan Carlos, the grandson of the deposed monarch, but never given a date of handover. The other reason Franco wouldn’t announce a successor was the fear that any such announcement would lead to his own assassination as everyone flocked to the successor-appointee. Yet, eventually, Franco announced Blanco as his future prime minister. Who got assassinated! Franco quickly picked a new man for PM, Navarro. And thus, when Franco passed away in 1975 at the age of 82, Spain switched to a restored monarchy with a new Prime Minister.

 

What then do you conclude of Franco? Was he a strong and brilliant leader who saved Spain from communism? Or a fascist, a ruthless thug? Or all of the above?

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