SkipCaptcha
508
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Line 17:
Line 17: + + + +
→Franco's dictatorship
''General Franco's victory marked the beginning of a forty-year dictatorship in Spain (1939-1975). In the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War, Hitler sought Franco's support for his own military campaign, but Spain was in no position to provide either financial or human aid. Although the Spanish Civil War had been a training field for the
''General Franco's victory marked the beginning of a forty-year dictatorship in Spain (1939-1975). In the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War, Hitler sought Franco's support for his own military campaign, but Spain was in no position to provide either financial or human aid. Although the Spanish Civil War had been a training field for the
battles to be waged in the Second World War.''<ref> [http://www.donquijote.org/culture/spain/history/civilwar.asp Spanish Civil War]</ref>
battles to be waged in the Second World War.''<ref> [http://www.donquijote.org/culture/spain/history/civilwar.asp Spanish Civil War]</ref>
As the war progressed, and an English blockade of Spanish ports brought Spain close to famine, Franco distanced himself from Hitler and started making overtures to the USA. After the war, Spain could not match pre-war industrial and agricultural production. Inflation was rampant and hunger forced many people out of the country and into cities. The rest of Europe was receiving help from the Marshall Plan so Franco continued to woo the US, moving away from the overtly fascist Falangist party and closer to the Catholic church.
The first US aid package was granted in 1953 and Franco replaced all the ideologues in his government with technocrats. As more US aid paid for roads and hydroelectric projects in the 6Os, Franco became slightly more liberal. However, he still did not allow elections and his attitude to communists and regional separatists remained hard. Membership of the Communist Party or one of the regional parties carried the death sentence.
[[Image:German plane.jpg|thumb|right|German plane]]
[[Image:German plane.jpg|thumb|right|German plane]]