The Life of Francisco Franco

Daughter's Birth

Brigadier General

The Rif War

Marriage

First Liutenant

Joined the Spanish Army

Father's Abandonment

Franco's Birth

The Life of Francisco Franco

Political Life

Personal Life

1905

1905

1925

1920

1915

1910

1930

1892

1925

1920

1915

1910

1930

1892

Brother's Death

Mother's Death

Meeting with Hitler

Franco's Peace

End of Spanish Civil War

General of the National Army and Head of State

Aircraft Negotiation

Start of Spanish Civil War

Expressive Letter

Elections

Control of Spanish Morrocan Protectorate

Commander-in-Chief and Head of Government

Political Life

Personal Life

1939

1938

1937

1936

1940

1935

1939

1938

1937

1936

1940

1935

Father's Death

1945

1945

Personal Life

Political Life

Franco's Death

Spain declared a monarchy

Meeting with Mussolini

1950

1975

1940

1950

1975

1940

Franco's Birth 12/04/1982

Francisco Franco Bahamonde was born in Ferrol, Spain. He was expected to join the navy as he came from a long line of navy men. But because of the Spanish-American War, the naval acaemy closed for a few years. Franco in the arms of his parents | Courtesy of Wikipedia

Franco was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant at the age of 19.

First Liutenant 1912

Brigadier General 2/3/1926

Franco's service in Morocco was recognized and acknowledged and led to his rise through ranks. He became Brigadier General. Franco as general | Couertesy of My Hero

Franco proved his military ability and his ability to attain military assistance from Aldolf Hitler in Germany and Benito Mussolini in Italy. Because of this, he was announced as General of the National Army and Head of State in Burgos, Spain.

General of the National Army and Head of State 10/1/1936

Franco's brother, Ramon Franco, was killed in a plane crash off Palma, Mallorca.

Brother's Death 10/28/1938

Franco served as one of the youngest cadets in the Spanish Army in the Infantry Academy in Toledo, Spain when he was 14. He graduated in July, 1910 as second lieutenant, he was 251st out of 312 cadets.

Joined the Spanish Army 6/20/1907

The Spanish Civil War started when Franco tried to overthrow the Popular Front, the republic that was elected democratically.

Start of Spanish Civil War 7/17/1936

Commander-in-Chief and Head of Government 9/21/1936

Franco was proclaimed Commander-in-Chief, and after some discussion between Spanish General, Gonzalo Queipo de Llano, and Emilio Mola, a leader of the Nationalist coup that started the Spanish Civil War, he became Head of the Government as well. Franco as Commander-in-Chief and Head of Government | Courtesy of Britannica

Marriage 10/22/1923

Franco met Maria del Carmen Polo y Martinez-Valdes after his posting to Oviedo, Spain from Morocco in 1917. They got married on October 22nd, 1923 in Oviedo Spain. Franco and his wife at their marriage | Courtesy of Wikimedia

Elections 2/16/1936

Because of corruption, the ruling coalition collapsed, and new elections were to take place. Two coalitions formed, on the left, the Popular Front, which included the Republican Union and the Communists, and on the right, the National Front, which included the center radicals and the conservative Carlists. In the elections, the Popular Front won by a very small margin. Popular Front after winning the election | Courtesy of Museo Do Aljube

Aircraft Negotiation 7/25/1936

Franco began to negotiate with Germany, the United Kingdom, and Italy for military support, specifically aircrafts. By July 25th, 1936 the negotiation was successful. Spanish aircraft | Courtesy of Wikipedia

Franco wrote a letter to Casares Quiroga, the Head of the Government, expressing his discontent with the Spanish Republic Army, but he didn't receive a response back.

Expressive Letter 2/23/1936

Control of Spanish Moroccan Protectorate 7/18/1936

Franco took on the leadership of the Spanish Army of Africa. During the first days of the war, Franco found it important to secure control over the Spanish Moroccan protectorate. To do so, had to gain the support of the natives and secure his control over the army. Creation of the Spanish Protectorate | Courtesy of Wkipedia

Franco and his wife, Maria del Carmen Polo y Martinez-Valdes, had a daughter, Maria del Carmen Franco y Polo.

Daughter's Birth 9/14/1926

Franco's father, Nicolas Franco Salgado-Araujo, passed away.

Father's Death 2/22/1942

Franco met with Mussolini in Italy at Hitler's request. Hitler hoped that Mussolini would convince Franco to enter the war. On the contrary, Mussolini was not interested in receiving help from Franco because of the defeats his forces had suffered just recently, he, himself wanted to get out of the war.

Meeting with Mussolini 2/12/1941

Mother's Death 2/28/1934

Franco's wife, Maria del Carmen Polo y Martinez-Valdes, passed away. Franco's mother | Courtesy of Wikidata

Franco declared Spain a monarchy, but he did not designate a monarch. He had no interest in a king at the time.

Spain declared a monarchy 7/26/1947

Franco passed away due to congestive heart failure in Madrid, Spain and Juan Carlos. Franco's personal successor, became king of Spain. Instead of continuing Franco's legacy, Juan Carlos deconstructed the Francoist regime and began Spain's transition into democracy.

Franco's Death 11/20/1975

End of Spanish Civil War 3/28/1939

After Barcelona, Spain and the rest of Catalonia was captured, the Republicans had nothing left. They tried to negotiate peace with the Nationalists, but Franco denied it. Madrid, Spain fell to the Nationalists with help from the pro-Franco forces inside the city. The Spanish Civil War ended and about 500,000 people lost their lives as a result. March at the end of the Spanish Civil War | Courtesy of Britnnica

Franco's father, Nicolas Franco Salgado-Araujo, moved to Madrid, Spain for a reassignment and ended up abandoning his family and marrying another woman. Franco never overcame this and basically ignored his father for the rest of his life. He identified with his mother, he learned from her and respected her.

Father's Abandonment 1906

Franco's Peace 4/1/1939

The last of the Republican forces surrendered and victory was proclaimed by the Nationalists. Franco placed his sword on an altar of a church and promised that he would never pick it up again unless Spain was threatened again. Franco celebrating the end of the war | Courtesy of The Guardian

Spain and France combined forces against Abd el-Krim, the leader of the Berber forces during the Rif War in Morocco. Franco was put in charge of the Spanish troops, while Herni-Philippe oversaw the French army.

The Rif War 1/18/1925

Franco and Hitler met in France to talk about Spain possibly joining on the side of the Axis in World War II. But Franco decided to stay neutral and not enter the war.

Meeting with Hitler10/23/1940