Uncommon Faith by John Coverdale

Author:John Coverdale [Coverdale, John]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Franco Takes Power in Nationalist Spain

During the first two months of the war, the junta of national defense made little effort to develop a governmental structure or even to impose any uniform plan on the various parts of Spain nominally under its control. Commanders on the different fronts enjoyed a high degree of autonomy and often clashed with each other.

As the Nationalist forces drew closer to Madrid in September 1936, the need for a unified command became more urgent. Franco was not a member of the junta, but his command of the Army of Africa and his successful bids for aid from Mussolini and Hitler gave him authority among the Nationalists. On September 29, 1936, the members of the junta named him generalissimo and chief of state, investing him with "all powers of the new state." He adopted the titleCaudillo, a classic Spanish term for leader that rapidly took on some of the overtones of the Italian Duce adopted by Mussolini and the German Fuerher used by Hitler.

Franco immediately replaced the junta of national defense with a technical junta that included only one of the members of the now dissolved junta of national defense. The new organization was not designed as a long-term solution but rather as an expedient to oversee the war effort. It would, however, serve as the government of the Nationalist zone for almost a year and a half, until Franco finally formed a regular government.

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