Changes

Franco gained power through an attempted military coup d'etat in 1936 that developed quickly into the [[Spanish Civil War]]. Franco's Falangists fought the elected republican government for three years before finally defeating the Republicans outside Madrid on April 1, 1939. With the fall of Madrid, Franco assumed control of Spain.

Franco gained power through an attempted military coup d'etat in 1936 that developed quickly into the [[Spanish Civil War]]. Franco's Falangists fought the elected republican government for three years before finally defeating the Republicans outside Madrid on April 1, 1939. With the fall of Madrid, Franco assumed control of Spain.

Franco ruled Spain as a dictator for many years, under his rule hundreds of thousands of his political opponents were murdered at his command (some sources suggest the number is closer to 2 million, but this is likely an exaggeration). <ref> http://www.moreorless.au.com/killers/franco.html </ref>

Franco ruled Spain as a dictator for many years, under his rule many thousands of political executions took place. Excluding combatants, the death toll under Franco's rule topped 100,000 and maybe approached 200,000 <ref> Beevor, A (2006). ''The Battle for Spain'', Weidenfeld & Nicolson. </ref>

==Reference==

==Reference==

<references/>

<references/>