Francisco Franco y Bahamonde, better known under the name of Franco, (Spanish: [fɾanˈθisko ˈfɾaŋko]; 4 December 1892 – 20 November 1975) was a Spanish general, dictator and the leader of the Nationalist military rebellion in the Spanish Civil War, and totalitarian head of state of Spain, from October 1936 (as a unified nation from 1939 onwards) until his death in November 1975. He came to power while recognizing the principles of the far-right Falange movement, although this was for propaganda reasons, as he belonged to no political party before becoming Head of State. As head of state, Franco used the titles Caudillo de España and Generalísimo, but also was called formally as His Excellency, The Head of State.
Franco was from a military family, and although originally intent on entering the Spanish Navy, he instead became a soldier. He participated in the Rif War in Morocco, becoming the youngest general in Europe by 1926. After returning to the Spanish mainland, he saw service suppressing an anarchist-led strike in 1934, defending the stability of Alcalá-Zamora's conservative government. Following the formation of a Popular Front government, made up of various left-wing factions, instability heightened. Violence between militant groups rose sharply with assassination of conservative parliamentary leader José Calvo Sotelo, in retaliation for the killing of José Castillo. Franco and his co-conspirators used Calvo's death as their pretext for war, as they had already initiated the plan for their rebellion.
The Spanish Civil War was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939. The war began after a pronunciamiento (declaration of opposition) by a group of generals under the leadership of José Sanjurjo against the elected government of the Second Spanish Republic, at the time under the leadership of President Manuel Azaña. The rebel coup was supported by a number of conservative groups including the Spanish Confederation of the Autonomous Right, monarchists such as the religious conservative Carlists, and the Fascist Falange. The uprising was authoritarian and anti-separatist in inspiration; anti-Basque and anti-Catalan feeling marked the Nationalist zone.
Following the only partially successful coup, Spain was left militarily and politically divided. From that moment onwards, general Francisco Franco began a protracted war of attrition against the established government for the control of the country. The rebel forces received the support of Nazi Germany and the Kingdom of Italy, as well as neighbouring Portugal, while the Soviet Union and Mexico intervened in support of the Republican government or loyalist side.
Plot
Franco spends his last days of life in "El Palacio del Pardo", between delusions of the past, and surrounded by his family and his loyal military entourage. These, desperate for the delicate state of health of the Caudillo, decide to resort to alternative medicine Dr. Müller, a modern German woman, to the astonishment of all, ending will be determined by becoming the right hand of Generalísimo.
Keywords: coup-d'état, fascism, francisco-franco
Plot
Did Franco have a double? The story is set in the late 40's, in Spain... The humble owner of an orthopedics shop in Madrid is abducted by a misterious group... He disappears for the external world... What happened to him? Due to an uncanny similarity with the dictator, Franco, he has been "selected" for the highly secret "Operation Janus", to provide a double for Franco for dangerous moments.
Keywords: 1940s, catholic, civil-war, controversy, dictator, entrapment, francisco-franco, francisco-franco's-double, freedom, impersonator
Tuvo Franco un doble?
Alberto Sinsoles: [Aiming at Franco or Franco's double with a gun] You are not the Generalísimo! I know that, because... 'coz when the Generalísimo stares at a man... eh, that man, that man's soul, eh, freezes and... eh... [suddenly aiming at his own head] Yessir, whatever you command, my Generalísimo! Viva Franco! Arriba España! [click!]