Figure 1.--The children of inprisoned Republicans were allowed to visit their fathers twice a year. Children whose mothers were also arrested were sent to state boarding schools where they were taught to reject their parent's beliefs and be good Fascists.

Spain was another example of the countries affected bu the wave of Fascism that swept Europe in the 1930s. Franco assumed a presidency and proceeded to establish a dictatotrial regime. Spain had been devestated by the War and Franco confronted the task of rebuilding a shatered country. About 0.5 million people, mostly men, who had fought for the Republic fearing reprisals fled the country. The French set up camps for them across the border. Franco set up concentration camps referred to as labor camps for those who has supported the Republic. Thousands were incarcerated. Many died in the camps. There were summary executions that went on for years. Both men and women were incarcerated. Mothers could keep their children with them in prisons until they reached age 5. At that age they were transferred to boarding schools where they were taught to be both Catholic and Fascists. Children could visit their incarcerated fathers two times a year. The autonomous status of Catalonia and the Basque Country was repealed. As part of this process, publication and education in the Catalan language was prohibited. Franco made the Falangist Party the governing party and incorporated a range of right-wing and Catholic groups. Fanco became El Caudillo (the leader) and the Falangists in Fascist traditiion became the Blue Shirts, copying the decives of Italian Fascists and German NAZIs. Franco's rule brought stability to Spain, but the economy was slow to recover.

Fascism in Europe

Fascism began in Italy. After the NAZI's seized power in Germany, Fascists movements achieved considerable inflience in Eastern and Southern Europe. Fascist parties also appeared in Western Europe, but until the NAZI invasion axhieved little power. Spain was another example of countries affected by the wave of Fascism that swept Europe in tye 1930s. Spanish Fascism was somewhat different. It was highly nationalist, but did not have the virulent racist policies of the NAZIs and other Fascist parties.

Franco Seizes Power

Franco assumed a presidency and proceeded to establish a dictatotrial regime. There were similarities among the various Fascist rehimes estanlished in Europe. There was a strong leader and the trappings of a police states. Elections were staged or simply not held. There was no independent judiciary. The regime in Spain, however, varied from the NAZI regime. Franco was a military man. Thus his base of support was the Army and not the Falange. This meant there was not just one louus of power in Spain. The Catholic Church was another independent power center. The fact that there were three centers of power in Spain meant the kind of absolutoism tat emerged in Germany was not the outcome in Spain.

The Falange

Franco made the Falangist Party the governing party and incorporated a range of right-wing and Catholic groups. Fanco became El Caudillo (the leader) and the Falangists in Fascist traditiion became the Blue Shirts, copying the decives of Italian Fascists and German NAZIs.

Fascist Econonomy

Spain had been devestated by the War and Franco confronted the task of rebuilding a shatered country. Franco's rule brought stability of a kind to Spain, but the economy was slow to recover. Part of the problem was the wide-spread destruction of Spain's economic infrastructure. Amother part of the problem was the regime's economic policies. Ration had to be instituted which continued throughout World War II.

Refugees

About 0.5 million people, mostly men, who had fought for the Republic fearing reprisals fled the country. The French set up camps for them across the border.

Concentration Camps and Prisons

Franco set up concentration camps referred to as labor camps for those who has supported the Republic. Thousands were incarcerated and sentenced to long prison terms. Many died in the camps. There were summary executions that went on for several years. Franco wanted to put the incarcerated Republicans to work rebuilding Spain. Those who underwent a reducation program and publically admitted to their "mistaken" believes were able to reduce their sentences through labor. Such was the ideological belief in the Republic, escpecially the Communists and Socialists, that few agreed to the program of redemtive labor. Both men and women were incarcerated. Mothers could keep their children with them in prisons until they reached age 5. At that age they were transferred to boarding schools where they were taught to be both Catholic and Fascists. Children could visit their incarcerated fathers two times a year.

Education

We do not yet have details on Spanish education after the Nationalist's victory. We do know that the Catholic Church was regained considerable influence over education. We also know that boarding schools were established for children who parents were arrested for Republican sympathies. They also served to care for large numbers of child refugees created by the Civil War. There they were taught to be goof Catholics and patriotic Fascists.

Falange Youth Movement

I do not yet have any information on the Falange Youth groups. I am unsure how strong the Scout movement was in Spain and what policies the Falange adopted toward the Scouts. I do not have as yet any infornation on the uniforms worn by Flange youth. We have noted a few photographs. We have also noted photographs of contacts between the Falange Youth grouops and the Hitler Youth, but are not sure how extensive those interactions were. The Falange Youth groups were in the news recently because of the controversy surrounding International Olympic Chairman Samaranch who was active in the organization. Unfortunately I have been unable to find more information about the Falange Youth. Hopefully HBU readers will know more. As the Falange was founded in 1933 there could not have been much of an organization before the Civil War. After the Falange was made the ruling party in 1937, state resources would have been available. but we do not yet know to what extent a youth program was developed.

Catalonia and the Basque Country

The autonomous status of Catalonia and the Basque Country was repealed. Both ares had been strong centers of Republican Support. As part of this process, publication and education in the Catalan language was prohibited.

Sources