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Fascism is a philosophy that is as old as history. It really means that when there is chaos in society then the government must take over with an Iron hand. This theory of Fascism comes down to modern times from the Roman era. In the 20th century when Europe had an economic recession and people were wondering what to do and unemployment and lack of real wages had come to the fore, the stage was set for an extremist philosophy. In this scenario, Europe became the breeding ground of fascism.

Fascism

Fascism rose in Italy under Benito Mussolini. He was a great man in his own way but his wayward life let him down. Towards the end of the war, he was a broken man who almost became a running boy of Hitler. He met a sad end as partisan fighters shot him dead and his body was hung in the public square in Milan. Another place where Fascism grew was Germany. The First World War had so crippled Germany, that even buying a loaf of bread was a torture. With all-round economic stagnation, Adolf Hitler came to power on the theory of Fascism and German Pride. Hitler formed the Nazi party and within a span of a half-dozen years, he took control over entire Europe.

He turned his attention to Spain where another Fascist General Francisco Franco was fighting the Royalists in a civil war.

Hitler and Franco

Hitler thought his this duty to help Franco and he dispatched guns and volunteers to help the Spanish leader. Franco believed in Fascism and he won the Civil war. The forces of general Franco were able to consolidate his rule and by mid-thirties, Franco became Caudillo or the leader of Spain. In 1940 Adolf Hitler made a train journey after the conquest of France to meet the Caudillo. He came up with the idea of asking Spain to help him in the war

Franco was a shrewd man and though he made some verbal promises, he did not commit on the dotted line to Hitler and Mussolini. I do not know if he had a Sixth Sense but probably he had a feeling that the bubble may burst anytime and it would harm him. Therefore he did not actively take part in the war on the side of Hitler though he was a Fascist to the core.

Shrewd leader

The fact that general Franco did not join Hitler and Mussolini in World War II was a factor that saved him at the end of the war. With Mussolini and Hitler dead, general Franco was the last surviving fascist. Franco ruled for almost 40 years and during this period he made some very far-reaching decisions. One of his decisions was that after his death the Spanish royal house would be restored and Spain would become a monarchy again. In my view, this was a very great decision and Franco must take credit for it. He could have easily asked one of his children to succeed in him but Franco was a changed man after World War II. To show the United States and the UK that he was on their side and to ensure his own survival he joined NATO

During the four decades of Franco’s rule, the one gift that he bestowed on the Spanish people was stability. He suppressed separatist tendencies and Catalonia which wanted independence was boxed in. What’s next? He believed in the unity of Spain and it is on record that Franco rarely went out of Spain.

One reason for this was that he had the stigma of being the last surviving fascist companion of Hitler and Mussolini. He was lonely but story records he not only survived in Spain but continued ruling four decades. This is no mean achievement. Franco remains one of the most enduring rulers in Europe during the 20th century. Franco was the only fascist leader who died a natural death. The Spanish people sometime must be wondering how Franco who was a designated friend of Hitler and Mussolini survived.

Place in history

Franco has a permanent place in the history of Spain. Many people still remember him as a strong man- as a man who brought order in society. Now with Franco dead and gone, fissiparous tendencies have emerged in Spain and people wonder whether Franco’s rule was good for Spain.

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Source by Madan G Singh