Person1892 – 1975
Francisco Franco
General who led the Nationalist rebels to victory in the Spanish Civil War and ruled Spain as dictator from 1939 until his death
Born into a naval family, he distinguished himself in Spain’s colonial war in Morocco and at 33 became the youngest general in Europe. Joining the military uprising of 1936, he brought the Army of Africa across to the mainland and became commander-in-chief and head of state (Caudillo) of the Nationalists. In the Second World War he sent volunteers to fight for Germany but never formally entered the war. The Cold War let him survive by aligning with the United States, and he named Juan Carlos his successor, opening the way after his death to a restored monarchy and democracy.