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[[Image:Francisco Franco.jpg|right|200px]]

[[Image:Francisco Franco.jpg|right|200px]]

Generalissimo '''Francisco Franco Bahamonde''' ("El Caudillo") was a soldier and statesman who served as the dictator of [[Spain]] from April 1, 1939 until his death on November 20, 1975. He had previously been a General in the Spanish army.

Generalissimo '''Francisco Franco Bahamonde''' ("El Caudillo") was a soldier and statesman who served as the dictator of [[Spain]] from April 1, 1939 until his death on November 20, 1975. He had previously been a General in the Spanish army. His administration resulted in systematical violations of human rights, and the establishement of over 190 Francoist concentration camps.

Franco gained power through an attempted military [[coup d'etat]] in 1936 that developed quickly into the [[Spanish Civil War]]. Franco's forces fought the democratically elected Popular Front government - including [[Communist]]s - government for three years before finally defeating them outside Madrid on April 1, 1939. Franco then assumed control of Spain. His regime rested on the support of a number of stalwart elements in Spanish society - the army, the [[Roman Catholic Church]], rural landowners, and the Falange political party. During the [[Cold War]], Franco was allied to the [[United States of America]].

Franco gained power through an attempted military [[coup d'etat]] in 1936 that developed quickly into the [[Spanish Civil War]]. Franco's forces, aided by Benito Mussolini's Fascist Italy and Adolf Hitler's Nazi Germany fought the democratically elected Popular Front government - including [[Communist]]s - government for three years before finally defeating them outside Madrid on April 1, 1939. Franco then assumed control of Spain. His regime rested on the support of a number of stalwart elements in Spanish society - the army, the [[Roman Catholic Church]], rural landowners, and the Falange political party. During the [[Cold War]], Franco was allied to the [[United States of America]].

Franco ruled Spain as a [[dictator]] until his death in 1975. His successor, King [[Juan Carlos]], reversed most of Franco's policies after a period of transition that led to the approval of a democratic constitution in 1978.

Franco ruled Spain as a [[dictator]] until his death in 1975. His successor, King [[Juan Carlos]], reversed most of Franco's policies after a period of transition that led to the approval of a democratic constitution in 1978.