Francisco Franco Biography

Francisco Franco was born in December 4, 1892, in a small town on Spain’s northwest tip called El Ferrol in Galicia. His father Nicolás Franco Salgado-Araújo was a sea-based military, that was Francisco goal to when he grows up. When he was 12 he he went to a private school that was run by a catholic priest, then Francisco entered a a naval school to start his career being just like his father also his grandfather.

He was going to join the navy, but instead he joined the army. In 1907 he joined the Infantry Academy in Toledo and graduated when he was 17. In 1912 he volunteered to be in colonial campaigns and was sent to the Spanish Morocco. He was promoted because he could handle the troops so well. In 1915 he became the youngest captain in the army. In 1935 he was appointed Chief of the Spanish Army general staff, in this position he gained the most strength.

During World War II, Spanish leader Franco wrote a semi-autobiographical novel called “Raza,” which was later turned into a film. Using the pseudonym Jaime de Andrade, Franco portrayed a family that strongly resembled his own, including a hero who valiantly fought against bloodthirsty Republicans. On July 18, 1936, Franco's beliefs were broadcast. They acclaimed to a military rebellion. On that same morning, the rising began. Within the day, he was firmly in control of the Protectorate, and he marched to Madrid. On October 1, 1935, before the assault on Madrid, the army leaders met to choose a Generalissimo.

This person would head the Nationalist Government. Franco was chosen, and became the Generalissimo. His government was a military dictatorship, but he organized the Spanish Fascist Party called the Falange. His regime was an institutionalized demanding system. In the Civil War, he was a very careful and efficient leader, and won the war on April 1, 1939. The war really wasn't fair, because it was the army and the government of Spain, Italy, and Germany against the people of Spain. As a result, the victor was obviously Franco and his regime. After the Spanish civil war, Spain was in ruins, so Franco stayed out of World War II. Franco came out of the Civil War as Head of State, government, armed forces, and the party, which showed his desperation to keep the power in his hands only. Spain made some major changes in its governmental system with Franco in power. The Falangist party melted into the background, so Franco was the only power in Spain. In 1947, Franco announced the restoration of the kingdom in Spain. Franco soon became known as a -Fascist dictator.