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Francisco Franco: A Life From Beginning to End
Francisco Franco It has been several decades now since Francisco Franco's passing in 1975, and yet his legacy still seems very much in the air. Depending on who you talk to, Franco was a fascist and a peacemaker, a destroyer and a savior, an idiot and a genius. Even after all this time, opinions of just who Franco was and how he contributed to modern civilization are up for open debate. Inside you will read about... - Franco's Conquest - Allying with Mussolini - Ein Fuhrer and Un Caudillo - The Last Fascist Standing - The End of Colonial Power - The Spanish Miracle - The Last Days of Francisco Franco And much more! Franco himself believed that he was doing a great service to his people. He never tired of making grandiose statements about his perceived mission to save Spanish society. Whether this was deluded self-righteousness is for others to decide. Discover Francisco Franco's story in this book and draw your own conclusions.
47 pages, Paperback
Published September 27, 2017
About the author
Hourly History
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
May 14, 2020
A very interesting biography. Francisco Franco led the civil war against the Popular Front (communists) to gain control of Spain. Hitler and Mussolini helped by providing him air support, artillery and infantry to win the war. However, Franco was smart enough not to join their axis of evil.
February 24, 2019
Somera, quizás algo incompleta biografía de Francisco Paulino Hermenegildo Teódulu Franco Bahamonde, Aka Francisco Franco, caudillo de España “por la gracia de Dios”, que por desgracia está más de moda que nunca por verbigracia del actual gobierno y su insistente empeño en sacarlo del Valle de los Caídos. ¿Acabará en la Almudena, como amenaza su familia? De momento lo que sí han conseguido es hacer de un monumento escasamente visitado un centro de peregrinación que goza de más visitas que en toda su existencia.
De las biografías que he leído hasta ahora editadas por “Hourly history”, esta es quizás de las más flojas, pues en sus escasas 50 páginas apenas nos deja entrever los aspectos más fundamentales de la vida y obra de este protagonista de nuestra reciente historia. Había para más, pero para eso ya existen cientos de obras de todos los gustos y orientaciones. Para el que no tenga ni pajolera idea de quién fue este personajillo (la mayoría de nuestros actuales estudiantes, por desgracia), pueden encontrar un mínimo de información en este volumen, para, al menos, hacerse una idea. Tres estrellas.
De las biografías que he leído hasta ahora editadas por “Hourly history”, esta es quizás de las más flojas, pues en sus escasas 50 páginas apenas nos deja entrever los aspectos más fundamentales de la vida y obra de este protagonista de nuestra reciente historia. Había para más, pero para eso ya existen cientos de obras de todos los gustos y orientaciones. Para el que no tenga ni pajolera idea de quién fue este personajillo (la mayoría de nuestros actuales estudiantes, por desgracia), pueden encontrar un mínimo de información en este volumen, para, al menos, hacerse una idea. Tres estrellas.
January 9, 2019
Francisco Franco... Long Last Dictator
I would recommend this book to anyone wanting a quick preview of Spain's Francisco Franco. The information contained within this book was a little vague and short on some topics. The writer could have delved a little further into his governing and handling of the Spanish government and it's population. Still a good reference for information on the subject.
I would recommend this book to anyone wanting a quick preview of Spain's Francisco Franco. The information contained within this book was a little vague and short on some topics. The writer could have delved a little further into his governing and handling of the Spanish government and it's population. Still a good reference for information on the subject.
November 6, 2018
Balancing the Odds Between East and West
Ruthless yet effective would be a succinct version of the book. Most writers and arists, coming as many do from the leftist fringe, have focused on the period of the Spanish Civil War and Franco's seldom-denied harshness. The book does well in showing those 4 years as part of a 40-year strategy of keeping Spain out of foreign entanglements. An excellent short biography.
Ruthless yet effective would be a succinct version of the book. Most writers and arists, coming as many do from the leftist fringe, have focused on the period of the Spanish Civil War and Franco's seldom-denied harshness. The book does well in showing those 4 years as part of a 40-year strategy of keeping Spain out of foreign entanglements. An excellent short biography.
January 23, 2021
The book. narrates a fascinating story of a Fascist who survived the second world war. Franco could keep both the sides in good humor and benefitted from "neutrality" during the war and the "necessity" of the Americans after the war.
October 13, 2017
Francisco Paulino Hermenegildo Teodulu aka Francisco Franco was born on December 4, 1892. His family had long served Spain in their maritime endeavors, producing a long line of admirals, spanning many generations. Franco’s aspirations to carry on in his family’s seafaring tradition was stopped by the ultimate defeat to the United States during the Spanish American War, which lasted a grand total of three months, three weeks, and two days (from April 21, 1898, to August 13, 1898). The Spanish navy was decimated during this war, never to recover its former glory. Franco entered the army and proved himself a talented and ferocious military leader, rising rapidly through the ranks.
Like Charles Maurice de Talleyrand- Perigord, Napoleon Bonaparte’s foreign minister, who remained in office throughout the Revolutionary, Napoleonic, and Royal Restoration eras. Franco had the talent and luck to both survive and even flourish through multiple world-altering events. He enlisted help from Benito Mussolini and even Adolph Hitler to secure his position in Spain without committing to either; effectively remaining neutral throughout the Second World War.
Franco managed to stay in power until his death on November 20, 1975. Certain aspects of his legacy remain today, coloring and flavoring the long and rich history of the Iberian Peninsula. This short and concise biography of Francisco Franco serves as a cornerstone and inspiration for further research into his times, struggles, and person.
Like Charles Maurice de Talleyrand- Perigord, Napoleon Bonaparte’s foreign minister, who remained in office throughout the Revolutionary, Napoleonic, and Royal Restoration eras. Franco had the talent and luck to both survive and even flourish through multiple world-altering events. He enlisted help from Benito Mussolini and even Adolph Hitler to secure his position in Spain without committing to either; effectively remaining neutral throughout the Second World War.
Franco managed to stay in power until his death on November 20, 1975. Certain aspects of his legacy remain today, coloring and flavoring the long and rich history of the Iberian Peninsula. This short and concise biography of Francisco Franco serves as a cornerstone and inspiration for further research into his times, struggles, and person.
November 12, 2017
Wonderful short bio
Balanced and fair, this well written and accurate biography gives a fairly detailed view of one of histories enigmas. I highly enjoyed it and will look for more books by this author.
Balanced and fair, this well written and accurate biography gives a fairly detailed view of one of histories enigmas. I highly enjoyed it and will look for more books by this author.
December 12, 2025
The book was kind of a disappointment at the beginning, but soon I started enjoying the read with ease through to the end..
(2017-Kindle Ed., p. 1)
...several years he would take on the surname of Franco.
Correction:
...several years "later" he would take on the surname of Franco.
(Ibid., p. 1)
...All-out war between the powers had broken out in 1898 after an explosion erupted below the decks of the USS Maine...
NOT "had broken out in 1898 (past perfect tense)," but "broke out in 1898 (past tense)."
(Ibid., p. 3)
...By 1912, he had been given his first official line of duty to the then newly established Spanish protectorate of Morocco which was fully engaged in the Riff War...
1912? No, the war would be fought between 1921 and 1926, and Franco only participated in the fight after he started leading the Spanish Foreign Legion by 1921.
(Ibid., p. 3)
...The mantra indicated that through the struggle that the soldiers were about to face...
Sigh...the writer loves the relative pronoun that just too much.
Correction:
...The mantra indicated that through the struggle the soldiers were about to face...
(Ibid., p. 3)
...Franco was just as enthusiastic as the other enlisted men, and by 1916 at the tender age of 23, he was made into a captain.
Again, the writer was, at least when he wrote this book, NOT qualified to talk about military subjects. He didn't even know the difference between "the Enlisted and Officers."
(Ibid., p. 4)
...He was then positioned with the Spanish Foreign Legion—a group that had just been formed on April 28, 1920—with Franco placed as second in command in early 1921.
"January" 28...sigh.
(Ibid., p. 5)
...all of the residents celebrated the marriage of highly the decorated soldier and his beautiful bride...
Jesus, please revise and edit the book before publishing her.
Correction:
...all of the residents celebrated the marriage of "the highly decorated soldier" and his beautiful bride...
(Ibid., p. 26)
...It was here that the woman that would become known for asking her country “not to cry for her” would cry out for Argentina’s need to help Spain in any way it could..."
Correction:
...It was here that the woman who would become known for asking her country “not to cry for her” would cry out for Argentina’s need to help Spain in any way it could..."
(Ibid., p. 31)
...the Moroccans turned on the Spaniards and used the same violent tactics that they had used on the French, until the Spanish were forced out completely, with Spain granting Morocco full and final independence on April 7, 1956.
Nope. Except the port city of Seuta, most of present-day Morocco was French colony while the part Spain ruled is now "Western Sahara," practically governed by different group than the current Moroccan monarchy in Rabat.
I found a few more errors, but other than these, the book was alright. The book was kind of a disappointment at the beginning, but soon I started enjoying the read with ease through to the end.
The story also provides good information and lessons to learn.
(Ibid., p. 17)
...Franco knew that the capital would fall to him sooner or later, and with the supreme patience and calm that he had become known for, even though Madrid was still out of his grasp, he turned toward the consolidation of his power among the Nationalists.
(Ibid., p. 21)
Fearing an Italian collapse, Hitler began to turn his attention once again to Franco’s Spain, theorizing that Franco could help him shut down the Mediterranean by seizing Gibraltar. But Franco had other plans in mind and being one of the very few to stand up to Hitler, Franco rejected his overtures, claiming that Spain would be unable to assist until Britain’s defeat was almost certain.
Great info. about the geopolitics during the 2nd World War. Gibraltar was as important as the Bab al-Mandab and Suez Canal. That's where the British Admiral Horatio Nelson fought a desparate war to death against Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte's Grand Fleet in 1805: The Battle of Trafalgar."
(Ibid., pp. 21-22)
...In a matter of sheer survival, Franco found himself playing both sides to prevent economic collapse on the one hand and an outright German invasion provoked by his insolence in the face of Hitler’s commands on the other. The U.S. State Department wouldn’t sign off on the wheat shipments from the American Red Cross until January 7, 1941, but the British rewarded Franco’s duplicity much sooner by sending 150,000 tons of corn, and 100,000 tons of grain. Franco, now satisfied that his people could survive the famine, began to plot the next move of his ultimate game of chess with the world powers.
What a tragic turnout for the very first global superpower Spain...
(Ibid., p. 44)
"...I believe that I had no enemies other than the enemies of Spain.”
And he never built his own dynasty, but instead, he gave "now the wealthy country" back to the people after all.
So he was a successful version of "Park Junghee," like Lee Kwan Yew or Deng Xiaping?
Nice reading.
(2017-Kindle Ed., p. 1)
...several years he would take on the surname of Franco.
Correction:
...several years "later" he would take on the surname of Franco.
(Ibid., p. 1)
...All-out war between the powers had broken out in 1898 after an explosion erupted below the decks of the USS Maine...
NOT "had broken out in 1898 (past perfect tense)," but "broke out in 1898 (past tense)."
(Ibid., p. 3)
...By 1912, he had been given his first official line of duty to the then newly established Spanish protectorate of Morocco which was fully engaged in the Riff War...
1912? No, the war would be fought between 1921 and 1926, and Franco only participated in the fight after he started leading the Spanish Foreign Legion by 1921.
(Ibid., p. 3)
...The mantra indicated that through the struggle that the soldiers were about to face...
Sigh...the writer loves the relative pronoun that just too much.
Correction:
...The mantra indicated that through the struggle the soldiers were about to face...
(Ibid., p. 3)
...Franco was just as enthusiastic as the other enlisted men, and by 1916 at the tender age of 23, he was made into a captain.
Again, the writer was, at least when he wrote this book, NOT qualified to talk about military subjects. He didn't even know the difference between "the Enlisted and Officers."
(Ibid., p. 4)
...He was then positioned with the Spanish Foreign Legion—a group that had just been formed on April 28, 1920—with Franco placed as second in command in early 1921.
"January" 28...sigh.
(Ibid., p. 5)
...all of the residents celebrated the marriage of highly the decorated soldier and his beautiful bride...
Jesus, please revise and edit the book before publishing her.
Correction:
...all of the residents celebrated the marriage of "the highly decorated soldier" and his beautiful bride...
(Ibid., p. 26)
...It was here that the woman that would become known for asking her country “not to cry for her” would cry out for Argentina’s need to help Spain in any way it could..."
Correction:
...It was here that the woman who would become known for asking her country “not to cry for her” would cry out for Argentina’s need to help Spain in any way it could..."
(Ibid., p. 31)
...the Moroccans turned on the Spaniards and used the same violent tactics that they had used on the French, until the Spanish were forced out completely, with Spain granting Morocco full and final independence on April 7, 1956.
Nope. Except the port city of Seuta, most of present-day Morocco was French colony while the part Spain ruled is now "Western Sahara," practically governed by different group than the current Moroccan monarchy in Rabat.
I found a few more errors, but other than these, the book was alright. The book was kind of a disappointment at the beginning, but soon I started enjoying the read with ease through to the end.
The story also provides good information and lessons to learn.
(Ibid., p. 17)
...Franco knew that the capital would fall to him sooner or later, and with the supreme patience and calm that he had become known for, even though Madrid was still out of his grasp, he turned toward the consolidation of his power among the Nationalists.
(Ibid., p. 21)
Fearing an Italian collapse, Hitler began to turn his attention once again to Franco’s Spain, theorizing that Franco could help him shut down the Mediterranean by seizing Gibraltar. But Franco had other plans in mind and being one of the very few to stand up to Hitler, Franco rejected his overtures, claiming that Spain would be unable to assist until Britain’s defeat was almost certain.
Great info. about the geopolitics during the 2nd World War. Gibraltar was as important as the Bab al-Mandab and Suez Canal. That's where the British Admiral Horatio Nelson fought a desparate war to death against Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte's Grand Fleet in 1805: The Battle of Trafalgar."
(Ibid., pp. 21-22)
...In a matter of sheer survival, Franco found himself playing both sides to prevent economic collapse on the one hand and an outright German invasion provoked by his insolence in the face of Hitler’s commands on the other. The U.S. State Department wouldn’t sign off on the wheat shipments from the American Red Cross until January 7, 1941, but the British rewarded Franco’s duplicity much sooner by sending 150,000 tons of corn, and 100,000 tons of grain. Franco, now satisfied that his people could survive the famine, began to plot the next move of his ultimate game of chess with the world powers.
What a tragic turnout for the very first global superpower Spain...
(Ibid., p. 44)
"...I believe that I had no enemies other than the enemies of Spain.”
And he never built his own dynasty, but instead, he gave "now the wealthy country" back to the people after all.
So he was a successful version of "Park Junghee," like Lee Kwan Yew or Deng Xiaping?
Nice reading.
June 25, 2022
Published in 2017 by Hourly History.
I am an avid reader of history, but I have areas of weakness that I am perfectly willing to shore up a bit, but I don't want to invest a ton of time in. Francisco Franco was one of those people for me.
I came into this biography knowing only the barest of facts about the long-time dictator of Spain. Franco ruled from 1939 until his death in 1975. This biography spends little time on his early life and could have expanded on the Spanish Civil War that brought him to power. For example, the most famous image of the war is the painting Guernica.
Guernica is one of the most famous paintings of the 20th century. It depicts the chaos of an attack by the German air force on the city of Guernica. Guernica was holding out against Franco's forces and Franco enlisted German help to deal with the city. German and Italian bomber planes tried out the relatively new technology in real life. Pablo Picasso painted the mural-sized painting Guernica to protest the attack and had it displayed at the 1937 World's Fair in Paris. Because of that, perhaps the most famous artist in the world and perhaps the most famous citizen of Spain was not allowed to return to Spain because of Franco. Most likely, Picasso wouldn't have wanted to return anyway - because of Franco.
This is the problem with the series. Since each book is limited in length, the author has to pick and choose what to include. In this case, they skimped on how he came to power. I enjoyed the discussion of how he sorted out a third way between the Axis and the Allies during World War II (not that I thought he was a good man for having done so, but it was interesting) and continually sought to become an accepted member of the western alliance against the Soviets after the war. I wouldn't have cut a word from the coverage of World War II, but I would have cut some of the talk about how he ran things on a day-to-day basis. Why? Going back to Picasso, what most of the world outside of Spain knows about Franco comes from that painting of the bombing and it should have been addressed.
Anyway, I confirmed what I had gleaned about Franco. I found it interesting how he picked a member of the royal family, Juan Carlos, to be his successor. Juan Carlos went on to lead his country to a democratic system of government.
This e-book is a good choice to fill in some blanks (what I did) or get an introduction to one of the longest-ruling dictators of the 20th century. But, it is not the complete story.
I rate this e-book 3 stars out of 5.
See my original post here, including a picture of the painting Guernica:
https://dwdsreviews.blogspot.com/2022...
I am an avid reader of history, but I have areas of weakness that I am perfectly willing to shore up a bit, but I don't want to invest a ton of time in. Francisco Franco was one of those people for me.
I came into this biography knowing only the barest of facts about the long-time dictator of Spain. Franco ruled from 1939 until his death in 1975. This biography spends little time on his early life and could have expanded on the Spanish Civil War that brought him to power. For example, the most famous image of the war is the painting Guernica.
Guernica is one of the most famous paintings of the 20th century. It depicts the chaos of an attack by the German air force on the city of Guernica. Guernica was holding out against Franco's forces and Franco enlisted German help to deal with the city. German and Italian bomber planes tried out the relatively new technology in real life. Pablo Picasso painted the mural-sized painting Guernica to protest the attack and had it displayed at the 1937 World's Fair in Paris. Because of that, perhaps the most famous artist in the world and perhaps the most famous citizen of Spain was not allowed to return to Spain because of Franco. Most likely, Picasso wouldn't have wanted to return anyway - because of Franco.
This is the problem with the series. Since each book is limited in length, the author has to pick and choose what to include. In this case, they skimped on how he came to power. I enjoyed the discussion of how he sorted out a third way between the Axis and the Allies during World War II (not that I thought he was a good man for having done so, but it was interesting) and continually sought to become an accepted member of the western alliance against the Soviets after the war. I wouldn't have cut a word from the coverage of World War II, but I would have cut some of the talk about how he ran things on a day-to-day basis. Why? Going back to Picasso, what most of the world outside of Spain knows about Franco comes from that painting of the bombing and it should have been addressed.
Anyway, I confirmed what I had gleaned about Franco. I found it interesting how he picked a member of the royal family, Juan Carlos, to be his successor. Juan Carlos went on to lead his country to a democratic system of government.
This e-book is a good choice to fill in some blanks (what I did) or get an introduction to one of the longest-ruling dictators of the 20th century. But, it is not the complete story.
I rate this e-book 3 stars out of 5.
See my original post here, including a picture of the painting Guernica:
https://dwdsreviews.blogspot.com/2022...
March 11, 2020
Francisco Franco was an extremely complex man. He may have kept communism out of his country, but he did exert his dictatorial will over the citizens, with thousands and thousands of murders. I was in Spain in 1984 and communism was trying to get a foothold in the country during the elections. So, Franco may have saved the country from communism during his life, but the ideology was trying to get seats in their government after his death.
It was impossible to get a consensus on the effects of Franco when I visited (they hated or loved the man) and this book shows the same conflict. The author shows both sides of the leader. I would have liked to have learned more about Franco's wife. I checked google and found that Carmen was very important in Spain.
It was impossible to get a consensus on the effects of Franco when I visited (they hated or loved the man) and this book shows the same conflict. The author shows both sides of the leader. I would have liked to have learned more about Franco's wife. I checked google and found that Carmen was very important in Spain.
January 3, 2020
An easy to read overview of a major dictator
This volume which is part of a series of sketches on world leaders brings history into the realm of enjoyable reading that serves as a catalyst to further investigate the complex subject of a dictator like no other one in our recent past. I found this ebook to be an open window that lets a cool breeze to enter our mind. Recommended as an introduction to this world figure.
This volume which is part of a series of sketches on world leaders brings history into the realm of enjoyable reading that serves as a catalyst to further investigate the complex subject of a dictator like no other one in our recent past. I found this ebook to be an open window that lets a cool breeze to enter our mind. Recommended as an introduction to this world figure.
January 5, 2018
Rating not based on the writing
I just didn't like this book. What should have been a quick read, took me forever. It was not the style of writing or anything of that nature. It was the subject of the book. I didn't know who he was when I started and he just didn't make for an interesting read to me. Writing great, not interested in the material and that's why I gave 3 stars.
I just didn't like this book. What should have been a quick read, took me forever. It was not the style of writing or anything of that nature. It was the subject of the book. I didn't know who he was when I started and he just didn't make for an interesting read to me. Writing great, not interested in the material and that's why I gave 3 stars.
March 26, 2025
Informative
Franco will no doubt always primarily be remembered as a dictator and fastest leader. In reality, he was a bit more complicated. It appears that he was a true believer in Spain and very anti communist dispute rejecting democratic ideals. Interesting and informative read.
Franco will no doubt always primarily be remembered as a dictator and fastest leader. In reality, he was a bit more complicated. It appears that he was a true believer in Spain and very anti communist dispute rejecting democratic ideals. Interesting and informative read.
March 28, 2020
The Chameleon Dictator
Although Franco was a large political figure in the 1960s and 70’s, I did not know much about except that he was a fascist that survived WWII nationalist axis powers.
Although Franco was a large political figure in the 1960s and 70’s, I did not know much about except that he was a fascist that survived WWII nationalist axis powers.
August 20, 2021
I promise to be a good leader, but I am your leader.
Hourly history freebie,they pass them out on fridays.Suitable for teens and adults. The tale of a egomaniacal and meglomanical person. Crushed anyone who looked like an enemy.
Hourly history freebie,they pass them out on fridays.Suitable for teens and adults. The tale of a egomaniacal and meglomanical person. Crushed anyone who looked like an enemy.
May 8, 2018
Pretty amazing stuff. Quite impressed
November 15, 2019
Francisco Franco reads like a poorly written movie on some cheap cable TV channel. If this is an acurate telling of his life, my respect for Spain just dropped 10 points!
Read
June 2, 2020Nación bajo riesgo. Nace un dictador.
El libro es una buena fuente para entender la historia contemporánea de España. El surgimiento y caída de una dictadura. El resurgimiento de una monarquía a la luz de la dictadura. Conocer a Franco es mirar al pasado para asegurar un futuro libre de aquellos personajes sedientos de poder, insensibles y narcisistas a los cuales hay que evitar a toda costa para la seguridad, bienestar de la nación y el fortalecimiento de la democracia. Los milagros económicos de las dictaduras, son un tipo de intercambio de espejos por oro. Muy buena lectura. La recomiendo.
El libro es una buena fuente para entender la historia contemporánea de España. El surgimiento y caída de una dictadura. El resurgimiento de una monarquía a la luz de la dictadura. Conocer a Franco es mirar al pasado para asegurar un futuro libre de aquellos personajes sedientos de poder, insensibles y narcisistas a los cuales hay que evitar a toda costa para la seguridad, bienestar de la nación y el fortalecimiento de la democracia. Los milagros económicos de las dictaduras, son un tipo de intercambio de espejos por oro. Muy buena lectura. La recomiendo.
June 6, 2020
A relatively unbiased coverage of Franco.
November 16, 2020
I usually try to see the pros and cons of all sides when it comes to balancing ideas. But, Franco and his fascist ideas are unbalanced in every way. Nothing good has grown up with the fascism.
July 15, 2022
Franco
Informative. Concise. You learn how some gain and keep power. Not always the brightest in the pack. Kind of scary.
Informative. Concise. You learn how some gain and keep power. Not always the brightest in the pack. Kind of scary.
September 14, 2022
Informative
This is a quick read and I am happy to at that it fills in many blanks for me.I now have a better grasp on the life of this leader.
This is a quick read and I am happy to at that it fills in many blanks for me.I now have a better grasp on the life of this leader.
March 15, 2024
Good biography of Franco
Well written and aside of some partisan ship. and a couple of typos, it gives a short and concise view of the man and his times.
Well written and aside of some partisan ship. and a couple of typos, it gives a short and concise view of the man and his times.
April 24, 2024
An important review of Spanish history.
January 17, 2021
Better than the average "A Life From Beginning to End" product. Covers the life of one of the 20th century's more neglected dictators well.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews