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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") (December 4, 1892 - November 20, 1975) 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.

 

Franco was born in El Ferrol, Spain, in 1892. His father worked as officer in the Spanish Naval Administrative Corps. At the age of 14 Franco entered the Infantry Academy at Toledo and was stationed in Spanish Morocco in 1912. One year later he was promoted to first lieutenant. When Franco was 22 he became the youngest captain in the Spanish army. In May 1935 he was appointed chief of staff of the Spanish army.

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 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.

==Ideology==

==Ideology==

*[http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/2WWfranco.htm Francisco Franco]

*[http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/2WWfranco.htm Francisco Franco]

*[http://www.moreorless.au.com/killers/franco.html Francisco Franco Bahamonde]

*[http://www.moreorless.au.com/killers/franco.html Francisco Franco Bahamonde]

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Franco, Francisco}}