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Francisco Franco: Capturing Madrid
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During the years Franco was in Morocco, Spanish society had experienced major economic and political upheavals. Movements for regional autonomy had emerged in the Basque Country and Catalonia, and were seriously undermining the authority of the central government in Madrid. Spain's uneven progress in industrialization and the development of a capitalist economy had unleashed a variety of economic and social problems. In the cities, an increasingly restless working class had begun rebelling against harsh living conditions and exploitation by factory owners and businesspeople. In the countryside, the peasantry had begun struggling against an oppressive, semifeudal economic system that locked most peasants into a system of extreme poverty.
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With the blockade broken, Franco led troops into southern Spain and began moving in towards Madrid. Franco was given command of the Spanish National Army and ... established as the Head of State on October 1, 1936. In November, an assault was launched against the city of Madrid, but failed. He again lobbied for German and Italian support and approximately 91,000 Italians, 20,000 Portuguese, and 22,000 Germans assisted in the war effort in Spain.
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Franco flew to Morocco to command the rebel colonial army. After a mutiny in the fleet gave control of the Straits to the Republic, he persuaded Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy to supply transport aircraft for a large-scale airlift. Once on the mainland, he deployed the ruthless Army of Africa as an instrument of terror, its march on Madrid leaving a trail of slaughter. His contacts with Hitler and Mussolini and his progress towards Madrid made him the natural choice to be overall rebel commander. In late September 1936, he made certain by diverting his troops away from Madrid to relieve the besieged Alcázar of Toledo and so inflate his own political position with an emotional victory. On October 1, 1936, he became the Head of State.
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After the war ended, Franco continued to maintain a low profile on the international scene while he worked to rebuild Spain as a strong country. In 1953, he signed the Pact of Madrid, which established a military and economic alliance between Spain and the United States. This treaty led to United States military usage of Spanish air and naval bases in exchange for billions of dollars in aid to Spain. In 1955, Spain was admitted to the United Nations.
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In Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia... Franco's revolt had been crushed with a thoroughness that portended ill for the success of his movement. They were the three largest cities of Spain, and had been the key-points of the rebellion. Lack of coordination in Madrid, Valencia and Barcelona, was what caused the rebellion to miss fire there. The government, having, in desperation, overruled President Azana and passed out arms to the workers, seemed as though it would turn the tables on the insurgent leader.
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In 1947 Franco declared Spain a monarchy, with himself as a sort of regent for life. In 1969 he designated Prince Juan Carlos, grandson of Spain's former king, Alfonso XIII, as his official successor. In 1973 Franco relinquished his position as premier but continued to be head of state. At Franco's death in Madrid on November 20, 1975, Juan Carlos became king.
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Capturing Madrid