In previous articles we have been reviewing the first years of the life of the General Franco: its military career during the morocco warhis political role in the Dictatorship of Rivera’s cousinand on paper in the Second Republic. already in 1936the crucial moment has come when Francisco Franco will become one of the main responsible for the fate of Spain: the Coup that opens the war Spanish civil.
Frank go into Burgos in August of 1936
Let us remember that until that moment, Spain was ruled by a regime republican -the call Second Republic. The power was held by left. Social unrest dominated the political climate in Spain. groups of right of army rose up in July 1936. (Marrakesh)
Frank, through his “African” troops, he positioned himself as a figure of importance within the coup group. From there he advanced to the peninsula August 8once the situation in Andalusia It was mostly under control.
Map of Spain two months after the military rebellion
But Frank had not been the leader of the Coup. He had been General Sanjurjo, and it was he who was called to occupy the leadership of the rebellious side. But something out of the plans happened: Sanjurjo He died in a plane crash after uprising.
It was necessary to find and designate a new Leader. The military rebels create a National Defense Boardand in this meeting Francisco Franco He is chosen to take over command. He was named Generalissimo of the rebel military forces and Head of state the October 1, 1936.
The clashes between both sides they took a great cruelty. There was executions of military and civilians loyal to government. And a real “hunt for republicans” in which the groups collaborated fascists who supported Frank. from the side Republicanwas also responded with violence, even though the remaining authorities tried to put a stop to it.
Guernica destroyed after the bombing of German planes in 1937
But this civil warexceeded the politics internal of Spaininvolving emerging fascist states: Italy Y Germany. The intervention of Mussolini and of Hitler supporting with military resources it was decisive. Without her, it would have been likely that the republicans they could control the uprising soon.
in January 1938, Frank is proclaimed Head of statepresiding from January 30th Her first government. A year later, the April 1, 1939, Frank declared the end of Civil waras the last bastions of endurance of the republicans. It was the beginning of the long dictatorship of Frank which would last until his death 1975.
Sources:
Biography of Francisco Franco Bahamonde, in Art History.
Spanish Civil War, on Wikipedia
DE AMIBILIA, Miguel. Frank. In: Magazine “The men of history”, No. 30, Bs. As., Editorial Center of Latin America, s/f.
Images:
Franco enters Burgos in August 1936in: DE AMIBILIA, Miguel. Frank. In: Magazine “The men of history”, No. 30, Bs. As., Editorial Center of Latin America, s/f.
Guernica destroyed after the bombing of German planes in 1937on Wikipedia
Map of Spain two months after the military rebellion, on Wikipedia