Franco - Spain's Nationalist Dictator Documentary

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If Benito Mussolini had not joined Germany in WW2 he might have remained in power for a long time after like Franco.

During the War Francisco Franco also ordered all his diplomats who were in Spanish embassies operating in both Nazi Germany & all Nazi occupied countries in Europe to issue Spanish passports to any Jewish person who came to the Spanish Embassy advising them he or she is Jewish. The Spanish passports given Spanish names posing as "Sefardí" Sephardic, descendants of Spanish Jews that were deported in 1492. It saved thousands of Jewish lives especially Greek & Hungarian Jews. During the Holocaust Jewish people with Spanish passports couldn't be detained or arrested by either that Gestapo or the SS as Spanish citizen. They were deported to Spain instead of being sent the death camps.

As a sophomore in high school in 1975, our Spanish language class took a two week trip to Spain. I remember feeling somewhat intimidated, wondering what it was going to be like visiting a dictatorship, and the culture shock we'd feel, coming from a republic with all of the freedoms and rights we enjoyed. The only "shock" we felt was how similar Spain seemed to America! Other than seeing all of the statues and billboards dedicated to Franco, it was nearly impossible for we American high school students to tell any difference at all between the two countries - that is until our final 4 or five days there when Franco lapsed into a coma. We could feel a lot of tension in the air, and I remember our chaperones hoping that he hung on to life until we were on our way home! That didn't happen. Franco died a couple of days before we were to fly out, and we were told to stay in our hotel rooms in case Juan Carlos' transition to power wasn't a peaceful one. By that time, we had traveled from Madrid, where we'd spent our first week, and were spending our final week in the tourist resort of Costa Del Sol, and while we heard of some problems in Madrid, they seemed a long way off, and we never experienced any problems leaving that beautiful country. But we did finally see a huge, very important difference between America and Spain. Although we still had a few years in front of us before we could exercise our right to vote, we learned, during that tedious transition of power, how dear it would be for us to be able to say who, through our vote, we want to run our country. Of course, that was a long time ago in America, when voting meant something.

50:39 I think Franco was a man who cared more for the well being and future of his country than for ideology. He was a patriot, a statesman and a pragmatist. Nationalism and catholicism, those where his values. But outside of that he didn't subscribe any ideology strongly. Or if he did personally, he didn't let it influence his rule. He joined whatever side he thought would be more beneficial for the future of Spain at any given time. He remained neutral in WWII because joining would have been bad for Spain. When it was clear that Germany would lose, he helped the allies, because it was the right move for Spain at that point. He did repress his opposition strongly, because he wanted to create union under what he believed to be the right values (again, catholicism and nationalism), in order to prevent a second civil war, and also to ensure what he believed to be the right course for the country. But once he thought he had achieved his goal, he relaxed the repression significantly, and devoted all of his time and effort to lifting the country.

"I would rather have three or four teeth pulled, than have another meeting with him" said Adolf Hitler,allegedly, (who, incidentally,really hated going to the dentist) after his 12 hour long discussions with Franco at Hendaye, near the French-Spanish border on October 23, 1940.

Thank you. I graduated from an american high school on the us naval base at ROTA in 1961. I will always treasure my connection to Spain and it’s people. TR

You did a very fine job describing Franco. It is honest balanced history. I think Franco deserves the fair analysis you provide. By the way your pronunciation of complex Spanish geography is flawless. Muy bien.

There’s not much about him on YouTube so I’m thankful for this upload

“One thing that I am sure of, and which I can answer truthfully, is that whatever the contingencies that may arise here, wherever I am there will be no communism.” Francisco Franco

For me the most important point is the national economy management by Franco .From a dying economy when he took the power , he made for Spain a strong sustainable economic growth, for decades and which ever lasted after his death untill the world crisis of 2008. What ever the man could be, his work in economy is very positive for the well being of Spain population , because Franco was also a pragmatic leader, who was intelligent enough to bring some main changes and adaptations for his country since the 1950's

There is much information in this video that reflects what occurred during this time period in Spain However, no bio of Franco is complete when it does not even mention once, Portugal's role and Salazar role in shaping Franco's political and economic development.. 1.In fact it was Portugal and Salazar key support in early 1936 that allowed the nationalist to get a real foothold in Spain as without Portuguese Ports the nationalists had no entry point to get supplies from Italy and Germany. 2. it was Salazar's political support with Britain that allowed reproachment with France and Britain after the civil war. 3. it was Salazar policy of Iberian peace and non aggression ( the Iberian pact of 1940) that kept Spain from joining the Axis powers. 4. Salazar's and Franco's relationship cemented early Spanish economic rebuilding from 1945 to 1950s 5.it was Portugal's entry into NATO in 1949 that paved the way for Spain to rejoin the west. and in so doing allowed military co-operation between USA and Spain in 1955 until Spain joined NATO and the UN. 6. Equally important after some 4.5 decades of close Iberian cooperation, both countries entered the EEC which greatly cemented both countries as democratic nations in the mid 1980s. 7. Not mentioning this relationship, hides many facts of importance. such as the importance of each nation to each other. ie to this day Spain is still the biggest market for Portuguese goods and Portugal is the 3rd largest market for Spain after France and Germany. So with all this key information missing I find the video basically a Anglo centre view of glossing over history without in-depth knowledge of the real Franco, Spain and Iberian history The is no substitutes for real education and .truth in History. least we forget.

My mom who is 90 now here in the US, was born in Madrid in 1931and experienced the bombs as a child there.

Always interesting to learn about Spanish history greatly appreciated

As a Spaniards an someone who study history for passion, it is irritating to me when someone call Franco a fascist dictator. It is such a simplification, but everyone does because it is easy. Or politically convenient if you are into Spanish politics. Nationalistic is a far more accurate description of what Franco really was. So again, thanks.

Great documentary. I was stationed at Torrejon Air Base in Spain when the three Generals tried to take over the government of Spain. Depending on where you go in Spain will depend on how your question will be answered, about Franco. As for me, I love Spain and all its history. It is a beautiful country with a richness that intoxicates. Great presentation. Thank you

Please do one on Franco's Hungarian counterpart, Miklos Horthy!

Franco is still a sensitive topic in Spain. A few years ago I visited the alcazár in Toledo that serves as a military museum. The few rooms that deal with the civil war could just as well have been empty and painted white, there was nothing there that was even remotely interesting regarding that war or Franco himself.

He was very pragmática and had that simple intelligence of Who things are meant to develop, without any of the stupidities ideologies put in people minds. One thing everybody Who ley him reckons: He somewhat inmediately inspired a lot if respect. It was un the air. His morrocan soldiers in Africa testified that he had "baraka".

During the war part of my family was kill by the republicans only for going to Mass. Every male 15 and older were killed. In a region not even at war. Ciudad Real. All the killing and revolution chaos during 1936 were the reason why the movement was successful. The remainders of them are buried in the valley of the fallen in n Madrid. Of my grandparents one was in the Republican side and the other one in the nationalist side. If the republicans would have won Sprain would have been a terrible communist regimen as it was Rumania. These were very complicated years!!! We were really lucky. God bless Spain, Churchill and the USA for their support.