Profession: Spanish Dictator and General
Biography: Francisco Franco, General and ruler of Spain for nearly forty years began his career as a young soldier, rising to 2nd in command of the Spanish Foreign Legion in 1920 and later its commander. Franco was one of a group of military leaders who in 1936 planned a coup to overthrow the Republican elected government, effectively starting the Spanish Civil War.
Franco assumed leadership of Nationalist forces slowly winning control of Spain. Franco was aided in his cause by some support from fascist Germany and Italy.
However Franco failed to come to an agreement with Hitler at the outbreak of WWII and remained outside the war. Franco's early rule saw a continuation of the Nationalist 'White Terror' the oppression, imprisonment and execution of political opponents.
The first years of Franco's reign were bleak as many went into exile. Franco promoted a nationalist, conservative state and suppressed regional languages and identity. In 1969 he appointed Prince Juan Carlos as his successor. Upon his death in 1975 he was interred in Valle de los Caídos, a vast memorial.
Born: December 4, 1892
Birthplace: Ferrol, Galicia, Spain
Generation: Lost Generation
Star Sign: Sagittarius
Died: November 20, 1975 (aged 82)
Articles and Photos
Married Life
- 1923-10-16 General Francisco Franco (30) marries María del Carmen Polo y Martínez-Valdés (23) at Church of San Juan el Real in Oviedo
Historical Events
- 1926-02-25 Francisco Franco becomes Spain's youngest general at 33
- 1936-07-17 Spanish generals Francisco Franco and Emilio Mola lead a right-wing uprising, starting the Spanish Civil War
- 1936-07-18 Spanish Civil War: General Francisco Franco issues manifesto and leads an uprising in the Spanish army stationed in Morocco
- 1936-09-03 Francisco Franco's troops conquer Irun and Talavera de la Reina, Spain
- 1936-09-21 Spanish fascist junta names Francisco Franco to Generalissimo and Supreme Commander
- 1936-09-27 Francisco Franco's nationalist Army of Africa captures the Alcázar of Toledo after a two month siege
- 1936-10-01 Generalissimo Francisco Franco establishes state of Spain
- 1936-11-18 Germany & Italy recognize Spanish government of Francisco Franco
- 1937-03-20 Franco's Republican army launch their (eventually successful) counter-offensive against Italian International Brigades fighting for the Nationalists at the Battle of Guadalajara, Spain
- 1937-06-19 Francisco Franco's Nationalist troops take Bilbao during their victorious Biscay Campaign in the Basques region during the Civil War
- 1937-07-01 Spanish bishops support Francisco Franco and his fascist movement
- 1937-08-06 Franco's artillery fires on Madrid
- 1937-08-26 General Franco's Nationalist troops conquer Santander during the Spanish Civil War
- 1937-10-21 Francisco Franco's nationalist troops occupy Gijón, ending the occupation of Asturias
- 1937-12-01 Japan recognizes Spain's Franco government
- 1938-03-17 The Italian Air Force, in support of Francisco Franco, bombs Barcelona during the Spanish Civil War
- 1939-01-13 Belgian premier signs Burgos Treaty for trade relations with Franco's Spain
- 1939-01-26 Francisco Franco's Nationalist troops conquer Barcelona
- 1939-02-22 Netherlands recognizes Francisco Franco's dictatorial regime in Spain
- 1939-02-27 Britain and France recognize Francisco Franco's government in Spain
- 1939-03-28 Spanish Civil War ends, Madrid falls to the Nationalists headed by Francisco Franco
- 1939-04-01 US recognizes Francisco Franco's government in Spain at end of Spanish civil war. Pope Pius XII congratulates Generalissimo Franco's victory in Spain
- 1946-12-03 US government asks UN to order dictator Francisco Franco out of Spain
- 1947-07-09 Spain votes for Franco monarchy
- 1965-01-20 Generalissimo Francisco Franco meets with Jewish representatives to discuss legitimizing Jewish communities in Spain
- 1969-01-24 Spanish dictator General Franco announces state of emergency
- 1969-06-08 General Franco closes Spain's frontier with Gibraltar
- 1971-07-16 Franco appoints prince Juan Carlos as deputy in Spain
- 2018-09-13 Spanish parliament votes to exhume former dictator Francisco Franco from the Valley of the Fallen
- 2019-09-24 Spain's Supreme Court rules body of dictator Francisco Franco can be removed from state mausoleum, the Valley of the Fallen, to municipal cemetery
- 2019-10-24 Remains of Spanish dictator Francisco Franco removed from mausoleum in Valley of the Fallen and reburied in private family vault in Madrid
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