Francoist Spain: Map & History
Francoist Spain is mapped in the atlas for 1939 CE – 1975 CE, with a peak mapped extent of about 854,238 km².
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Francoist Spain, also known as Nationalist Spain, Falangist Spain, the Franco regime, or the Franco dictatorship, officially the Spanish State, was a state established in Nationalist-held territories of Spain ruled by Francisco Franco during the Spanish Civil War from 1936 to 1939 and then comprising the whole of Spain from 1939 until Franco's death in 1975.
Modern Countries Once Part of Francoist Spain
At its mapped extent, Francoist Spain covered territory in 4 present-day countries. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
- Western Sahara1939–1975 CE · nearly all
- Equatorial Guinea1939–1972 CE · most
- Spain1939–1975 CE · most
- Morocco1939–1975 CE · a small part
States and Provinces
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside Francoist Spain's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
Francoist Spain in Depth
Government
After Franco's victory in 1939, the Falange was declared the sole legally sanctioned political party in Spain and it asserted itself as the main component of the National Movement. In a state of emergency-like status, Franco ruled with, on paper, more power than any Spanish leader before or since. He was not even required to consult his cabinet for most legislation. According to historian Stanley G. Payne, Franco had more day-to-day power than Adolf Hitler or Joseph Stalin possessed at the respective heights of their power. Payne noted that Hitler and Stalin at least maintained rubber-stamp parliaments, while Franco dispensed with even that formality in the early years of his rule.
Economy
The Civil War had ravaged the Spanish economy. Infrastructure had been damaged, workers killed and daily business severely hampered. For more than a decade after Franco's victory, the economy improved little. Franco initially pursued a policy of fascist-style autarky similar to the Italian and German models, resulting in almost all international trade and essential aid being cut off. The policy had devastating effects and was a major contributing factor in the devastation and stagnation of the Spanish economy, alongside a famine that killed over 200,000 people. Only black marketeers could enjoy an evident affluence.
In 1940, the Sindicato Vertical was created.
Legacy
In Spain and abroad, the legacy of Franco remains controversial. In Germany, a squadron named after Werner Mölders has been renamed because as a pilot he led the escorting units in the bombing of Guernica. As recently as 2006, the BBC reported that Maciej Giertych, an MEP of the right-wing League of Polish Families, had expressed admiration for Franco's stature who he believed had "guaranteed the maintenance of traditional values in Europe".
Spanish opinion has changed. Most statues of Franco and other public Francoist symbols have been removed, and the last Franco statue in Madrid came down in 2005.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Francoist Spain (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Francoist Spain: Key Facts
| Capitals | Madrid, Salamanca |
|---|---|
| Official language | Spanish |
| Form of government | one-party dictatorship, constitutional monarchy |
| Currency | peseta |
| Founded | 1 April 1939 |
| Dissolved | 20 November 1975 |
Preceded by
Succeeded by
- Reign of Juan Carlos I of Spain
- Spanish transition to democracy
Facts from Wikidata Q13474305 (CC0).
Francoist Spain Map Over Time
Dated world maps on which Francoist Spain appears, with the other states of the time.
Francoist Spain Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 854,238 km² in 1951 CE.
Francoist Spain: Frequently Asked Questions
When did Francoist Spain exist?
Francoist Spain is dated to 1939 CE – 1975 CE, in the Industrial era.
What was the capital of Francoist Spain?
The capital of Francoist Spain was Madrid.
How large was Francoist Spain at its peak?
At its peak in 1951 Francoist Spain covered about 854,238 km².
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