Francos Spain

							“His head was a cemetery of dead ideas.”
               D.A. Puzzo
 Personal Background
   Francisco Franco served with distinction in the
      Moroccan War, being wounded in battle.
     He became head of the First Battalion of the Legion,
      famous for his brutality. In time he came to command
      the Legion.
     At the age of thirty-three he became the youngest
      general in Europe, and a respected figure in Spain.
     When the Military Academy was formed at Zaragoza,
      he headed it.
     He found the republic repugnant repugnant, but
      prudently hid his feelings.
 When in 1934, Carlist and Alfonsist representatives
  visited Mussolini as part of a plot to restore the
  monarchy, Franco stayed aloof.
 When Robles brought in CEDA ministers the left was
  outraged. Martial law was declared in the Asturias.
  Franco was in effective change of operations against
  the striking miners and others. Using Morccan
  mercenaries he ruthlessly crushed the disorders.
 As a reward, Franco was made Commander-in-Chief of
  Morocco and Chief of the General Staff.
 With the return of the Popular Front government Franco
  became involved in plots to overthrow the democracy.
 He was made Commandant-General of the Canary Island, a
  post he regarded as demotion and banishment.
 General Mola began a new conspiracy to overthrow the
  democracy. All the members of the conspiracy were
  africanistas, so that the coup could be described as a coup
  by colonial officers against their civilian superiors.
   There would be regional risings, followed by a concerted
    attack upon Madrid.
   The Head of State would be General Sanjurjo, although he
    would be primus inter pares. Mola would direct operations,
    and other generals would take over various regions of the
    country. Franco would become High Commissioner for
    Morocco.
 For a long time the other conspirators were doubtful
  whether Franco would join them. On the 12th July he sent a
  coded message to Mola saying that the time was not right.
 On the same day, Calvo Sotelo was murdered. Also a
  delegation of Socialists and Communists demanded of
  Caseres that he distribute arms to the workers before a
  coup took place, although he refused.
 Franco went to Las Palmas and the army in Morocco rose
  against the government.
 Franco immediately issued a manifesto justifying the
  revolt, and sent representatives to Mussolini and Hitler to
  seek aid.