The General Franco has been one of the historical figures most influential in the History of Spain of twentieth century. Even today -decades later-, his government is still a theme in the politics Spanish (as in the investigation of the Judge Baltasar Garzon). I propose then to make a brief review of his life, through a brief Biography organized in different stages: the rif war, the dictatorship of Rivera’s cousinthe Second Republicto Civil warand the Dictatorship.
Francisco Franco
Francis Franco Bahamonde born in Ferrol, La Corunain 1892. From a very young age he oriented his training to art military, the predominant profession in his family. For his training he went to the Military school of Toledo.
At the young age of 20, his goal is to gain experience of war. That is why he asks to be transferred to Morocco, and in 1912 he arrived in the African country. This would be a key event in the military career of Frank.
At the beginning of twentieth centurythe imperialist powers disputed the control of a large part of the world “underdeveloped” looking to increase their colonial empires. Y Morocco It was one of the callsafrican possessions” of the Spanish crown.
Over there, Spain controlled two cities: Ceuta Y mililla. They were both in front of Mediterranean Sea and surrounded by hostiles who usually attacked their borders. This was one of the causes of the rif war, which lasted from 1911 to 1926.
Franco in his early years in Morocco
In his campaign years in Africa, Frank got many promotions, most of them for “war merits”. In 1916 he was appointed Commander and intended for Oviedo. There he participated in the violent repression of one strike mine that left a large number of victims.
Then, in 1920, he will return to Moroccowhere it plays an important role in the development of the new “foreign legion”, which would be characterized by its ferocious violence and crudeness, without much respect for the rules of combat.
After a period in Oviedohe is named Lieutenant colonel and is sent to Morocco to be the new leader of the “foreign legion”. By then the war was in one of his most difficult points and this allowed him to Frank stand out again achieving the degree of Colonel in 1925.
The difficult position of Spain in the war conflict changed drastically when France entered the warafter the army rifeño attacked the territory under the french protectorate.
Landing of Al Hoceima
The armies of France Y Spain launched a joint attack: the disembarkation of alhucemasin which Frank led the first wave of ground troops. After the successful maneuver, European forces controlled the weakened Republic of the Rif. Shortly after the war it was over.
Thus concluded a fundamental stage in the life of Frank. In 1926 he returned to Spain with the charge of Brigadier (being one of the youngest generals in Europe at that time), where his figure already had an important political weight.
But there was still a long way to go Frank to become the most influential man in the country. The conjuncture of the crisis politics in Spain –from the dictatorship of Rivera’s cousin first and the Second Republic afterwards – would be the most propitious environment to achieve it.
Sources:
Biography of Francisco Franco Bahamonde, in Art History.
Rif 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:
Francisco Franco, on Wikipedia
Franco in his early years in Moroccoat Francisco Franco National Foundation
Landing of Al Hoceimaon Wikipedia