Francisco Franco
1892–1975 · Spanish (Ferrol / Madrid) · Spanish Civil War, Cold War
Known for: Fascist dictator who ruled Spain for 36 years after winning the Civil War with Nazi and Italian support
Franco won the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) with Hitler and Mussolini's support, then ruled Spain as dictator until his death in 1975. He kept Spain neutral in WWII, suppressed Catalan and Basque culture, and maintained a deeply conservative Catholic regime.
He died slowly and publicly in 1975, and Spain transitioned peacefully to democracy—one of the most successful democratic transitions in history.
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