Francisco Franco

From Turtledove

Francisco Franco
Historical Figure
Timeline:	OTL
Nationality:	Spain
Religion:	Catholicism
Date of Birth:	1892
Date of Death:	1975
Cause of Death:	Parkinson's Disease
Occupation:	Soldier, Revolutionary, President of Spain
Spouse:	Carment Polo
Affiliations:	Traditionalist Phalanx of the Assemblies of National-Syndicalist Offensive
Timeline:	The Man With the Iron Heart
Timeline:	The War That Came Early
Appearance(s):	Hitler's War (referenced)

Francisco Paulino Hermenegildo Teódulo Franco y Bahamonde (1892-1975) was the dictator and Head of State of Spain from October 1936, as de facto regent of the nominally restored Kingdom of Spain from 1947 until his death in 1975. He led the Nationalists to victory in the Spanish Civil War, and was actively supported by the Axis. However, Franco kept Spain neutral throughout World War II, offering only token assistance to Germany.

[edit] Francisco Franco in The Man With the Iron Heart

After World War II ended, Francisco Franco's Spain (as well as António de Oliveira Salazar's Portugal) gave refuge to fleeing Nazis and Fascists from defeated Axis countries (Reinhard Heydrich's family fled to Spain in 1944). The United States had expressed the desire to topple the governments of both Spain and Portugal after Germany fell, but could not muster support from its allies.

Thus in 1947, several members of the German Freedom Front hi-jacked several planes and landed them in Spain. While they were ultimately arrested by Spanish authorities, Franco's soft touch with his former allies ensured that none would be turned over to the American authorities.

[edit] Francisco Franco in The War That Came Early

While Francisco Franco was perceived as a solid general amongst Spanish Nationalist forces, most felt him lacking in flair and charisma compared with Marshall José Sanjurjo, the Nationalist leader. Thus, many Nationalists expressed a measure of gratitude that Sanjurjo was leading Nationalist forces during the Spanish Civil War.