Spanish Fascism in the Franco Era: Falange Española de las Jons, 1936–76

207 Pages·1987·19.158 MB·English

by  Sheelagh M. Ellwood (auth.)

SPANISH FASCISM IN THE FRANCO ERA
SPANISH FASCISM
IN THE
FRANCO ERA
Falange Espanola de las Jons, 1936-76
Sheelagh M. Ellwood
Visiting Fellow, Centre for Contemporary Spanish Studies
Queen Mary College, London
Palgrave Macmillan
ISBN 978-1-349-08690-0 ISBN 978-1-349-08688-7 (eBook)
DOI 10.1007/978-1-349-08688-7
© Sheelagh M. Ellwood, 1987
Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1st edition 1987
All rights reserved. For information, write:
Scholarly & Reference Division,
St. Martin's Press, Inc., 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
First published in the United States of America in 1987
ISBN 978-0-312-00540-5
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Ellwood, Sheelagh M., 1949-
Spanish fascism in the Franco era.
Bibliography: p.
Includes index.
1. Falange Espanola de las Juntas Ofensivas
Nacional-Sindicalistas-History. 2. Fascism
Spain-History-20th century. 3. Francoism-.
4. Spain-Politics and government-1931-1939.
5. Spain-Politics and government-1939-1975.
I. Title.
JN8395. F26E45 1987 320.5' 33' 0946 86-29665
ISBN 978-0-312-00540-5
For Janet P. Ellwood, My Mother, in memoriam
Contents
Introduction: The Historiographical Recovery of
Francoism 1
PART I FALANGE CREATED
1 The Antecedents, 1931-36 7
2 Falange and the Civil War, 1936-39 29
PART II FALANGE REALISED
3 1939-41 57
4 1941-43 75
5 1945-57 95
6 1957-76 118
PART III FALANGE IDEALISED
7 1939-59 135
8 1960-76 154
Conclusion: After Franco ... 176
Bibliography 184
Index 199
Vll
Introduction:
The Historiographical
Recovery of Francoism
Until recently, analysts of 20th-century Spain, both inside and outside
the Iberain Peninsula, seem to have shown a marked preference for
studying in depth the left of the political spectrum. The right, by
contrast, has usually received only cursory or generalised attention.
There are, of course, some very valid reasons for this imbalance. In
the first place, while the regime headed by General Franco was still in
force, access to vital primary sources was frequently denied to would
be researchers. All too often, the barriers surrounding crucial institu
tional archives could only be surmounted by resorting to the arbitrary
but inevitable use of a well-placed enchufe (contact). Anyone outside
the regime was unlikely to have, or to be able to make, the relevant
enchufes. Those inside the system, precisely because they were part of
it, had no desire to use their privileged position to reveal its inner
workings. They were the guardians of its, and their own, secrets.
In the second place, even if it were easy, it is not pleasant to delve
into the entrails of a dictatorship whose creation and maintenance
were based, in large measure, on repression and injustice. Anyone
with a minimal democratic sensitivity is naturally repelled.
Yet, while both these factors help to explain why the Francoist right
has received relatively little critical attention from historians of
contemporary Spain, neither justifies the lack. Important though it
undoubtedly is to know and understand the nature and development of
the remnants and heirs of the socio-political forces which were
decimated by the Spanish Civil War (1936-39), it is equally necessary
to analyse the composition, behaviour and interrelations of the so
called victors. Otherwise, it is impossible even to begin to understand
the persistently manichean, profoundly anarchic, always contradictory
society that Spain was throughout the regime which arose in and from
those three years of conflict. In undertaking a study of one of the
components of the Franco regime - Falange Espanola (Spanish
Phalanx)-I have tried to go some way towards redressing the balance;
to contribute to what Professor Gabriel Jackson has called the
historiographical recovery of Francoism.'
1
2 Spanish Fascism in the Franco Era
My Spanish connection dates from 1970 when, as a student of the
Latin American area in the Sociology Department of the University of
Essex, I spent five months in Madrid to improve my grasp of the
Spanish language. It was not until 1973, however, that the general
interest in Spanish history which had been awakened in me by
repeated visits to the country began to clarify as a particular interest in
the creation and nature of the Franco regime, then still in power. The
seed of curiosity with regard to the Falange was finally implanted
shortly before I graduated from Essex and for that I should like to
thank D. Joaquin Romero Maura (then Director of the Iberian Centre
at St. Anthony's College, Oxford), whose suggestion that I consider
undertaking a study of Falange Espanola undoubtedly and without
exaggeration changed my life. The final result of that suggestion-the
present volume - reflects not only forty years of the history of Spain
but also thirteen of my own.
In those thirteen years, eleven of which have been spent as a resident
of Madrid, my view of the country, its people and their history has
changed many times; my knowledge and, I hope, my understanding, of
them have broadened and deepened. No merit is due to me for that.
The many Spaniards from all walks of life with whom I have come into
contact over the years have, through their conversation and their
attitude towards my work, afforded me insights into the complexities
of their country which, as an outsider, would otherwise have escaped
me. Some have become close friends; others were ships that pass in the
night. All, including the few who expressed hostility to the foreigner
who wanted to poke around in Spanish affairs, have contributed in no
small measure to my desire and determination to live and work here.
It might be expected that the Falangists themselves would be among
the group who were unwilling to allow me to enquire into their past. It
is true that I made little headway in my attempts to gain access to the
archives of such Falangist institutions as the Party Secretariat, the
National Militias or the Syndical Organisation. Of the contacts made
requesting personal interviews, however, almost all received a positive
response. A good deal of patience and more or less persuasion were
required, certainly, but I was eventually able to carry out some thirty
interviews, most of which were revealing and enriching. I should like
to express here my thanks to all those Falangists who were kind enough
to devote some of their time to answering my questions.
My deepest debt in gratitude is undoubtedy owed to Professor Paul
Preston, Director of the Centre for Contemporary Spanish Studies at
Queen Mary College, London, and supervisor of the doctoral thesis on
Introduction 3
which the present volume is based. Since 1974, when I first discussed
with him the subject of the Falange his support, help and friendship
have been an unfailing vote of confidence which I greatly appreciate.
As an expatriate, I should also like to thank him and his wife,
Gabrielle, for their kindness in offering me their house as a home from
home when I am in London.
There are, of course, a number of people who do not seem to 'fit' in
any of the above paragraphs and who, nevertheless, have, provided
over the years those apparently minor kinds of support without which
one's life and work would probably be more difficult and certainly
more arid. My father has bailed me out on many occasions, with
everything from HM Inspector of Taxes to degree certificates urgently
required in Spain. My brother, Dr David Ellwood, has given me many
insights into the comparisons which may and may not be drawn
between contemporary Italy and Spain. Gonzalo Pont6n has shown a
friendly concern for my welfare which goes well beyond the bounds of
his publisher's professional obligation. On his periodic visits to
Madrid, Paul Heywood's company and conversation have been a
pleasant interruption to the daily round. From Sandra Lotti, Laura
Lisci, Maria Izquierdo and Sheena Ellwood, I have received the
solidarity of other, single, working women and the warmth of their
good-humoured friendship. The Alfaya family have, likewise, been
more than generous with their friendship and hospitality. And Golo
has alternately driven me mad and kept me sane.
It goes without saying that, whilst I am grateful to all these people
for their help, I do not in any way hold them responsible for the
shortcomings of this book.
Madrid
Notes
On the occasion of the presentation of his book, La Republica espanola y la
Guerra Civil, 1931-1939 (Barcelona: Editorial Critica, 1976).
Part I
Falange Created