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 elected communist government for three years before finally defeating them outside [[Madrid]] on April 1, 1939. With the fall of Madrid, Franco assumed control of Spain. His policies have been described as [[fascist]]. His regime is generally recognised as having 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. | 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 elected communist government for three years before finally defeating them outside [[Madrid]] on April 1, 1939. With the fall of Madrid, Franco assumed control of Spain. His policies have been described as [[fascist]]. His regime is generally recognised as having 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. |