Francisco Franco

**Francisco Franco** (Francisco Paulino Hermenegildo Teódulo Franco Bahamonde Salgado Pardo de Andrade, 4 December 1892 – 20 November 1975) was a Spanish military leader who ruled as fascist dictator of Spain from 1939 until his death.

His ideology was called _Francoism_ () or Falangism.

### Civil war

He was a leader of a coup d'état against the Spanish Second Republic in 1936. After this  uprising the Spanish Civil War started.  Franco was supported by fascists, big businesses, the church, conservative people and Spanish nationalists. The Spanish Republic had a socialist government that wanted to make businesses and the church less powerful.  The Republic also set up local parliaments in the regions of Spain.  Nationalists thought this was wrong and would make Spain weak.

Three of the leaders of the coup died. Franco led the Army of Africa, the best part of the Spanish Army. He became the only leader.

### World War Two

Franco remained neutral during World War II as Hitler did not accept his conditions for Spain to join the Axis powers. Franco wanted Gibraltar and part of French North Africa. He sold Tungsten to Germany and allowed a group of volunteer soldiers to join the German Army to fight the Russians between 1941 and 1943. They were called the _División Azul_ (Blue Division)

### Death

Franco died in Madrid on 20 November 1975, just after midnight of heart failure. Relatives, such as his daughter Carmen, had asked doctors to remove his life support systems. After Franco's death, Juan Carlos became king.

## Infobox (officeholder)

- **honorific prefix**: _Excellency, His Excellency
General, Generalísimo
- **name**: Francisco Franco
- **image**: RETRATO DEL GRAL. FRANCISCO FRANCO BAHAMONDE (adjusted levels).jpg
- **office**: Head of State of Spain, Caudillo of Spain
- **term start**: 1 October 1936
- **term end**: 20 November 1975
- **successor**: Juan Carlos I of Spain, Juan Carlos I
(Monarchy of Spain, King of Spain)
- **office2**: Prime Minister of Spain
- **term start2**: 30 January 1938
- **term end2**: 9 June 1973
- **successor2**: Luis Carrero Blanco
- **party**: FET y de las JONS
- **birth place**: Ferrol, Spain, Ferrol, Galicia, Restoration (Spain), Kingdom of Spain
- **death place**: Madrid, Francoist Spain, Spanish State
- **death cause**: Septic shock
- **restingplace**: Mingorrubio Cemetery, El Pardo, Madrid, Spain
- **relatives**: Nicolás Franco (politician), Nicolás Franco (brother)
Ramón Franco (brother)
:es:Francisco Franco Salgado-Araújo, Francisco Franco (cousin)
:es:Ricardo de la Puente Bahamonde, Ricardo de la Puente (cousin)
- **children**: Carmen Franco, 1st Duchess of Franco, María del Carmen
- **mother**: María del Pilar Bahamonde
- **father**: Nicolás Franco
- **residence**: Royal Palace of El Pardo, El Pardo, Madrid
- **education**: Toledo Infantry Academy, Infantry Academy of Toledo
- **nickname**: Caudillo
- **allegiance**: Restoration (Spain), Kingdom of Spain
(1907–1931)
 Second Spanish Republic, Spanish Republic
(1931–1936)
 Francoist Spain, Spanish State
(1936–1975)
- **signature**: Francisco Franco Signature.svg
- **branch**:  Spanish Armed Forces
- **serviceyears**: 1907–1975
- **rank**: Captain general of the Army

Captain general of the Navy
- **commands**: All (_Generalissimo, Generalísimo'')
- **battles**: Second Melillan campaign, 2nd Melillan Campaign
Rif War
Revolution of 1934
Spanish Civil War
Ifni War