The first half of the 20th Century turned the world upside-down. The First World War, known as the Great War, cost a huge number of lives, mostly male, throughout Europe and elsewhere. That war raged from 1914-1918.
Did we learn our lesson? No.
[BBC History Magazine]
The Rise of the Right
Within 15 years Fascism - Nazism - had reared its ugly head in Germany, Italy and Spain. Also in England, courtesy of Oswald Mosely and his brownshirts.
Civil War broke out in Spain and lasted from 1936-1939. A brutal conflict between Republicans and the military, led by Francisco Franco, with help from the German Luftwaffe, that resulted in massive loss of life and the murder of countless Republicans following Franco's victory.
The Generalissimo continued to rule Spain as a repressive dictatorship until his death in 1975.
Adolf Hitler, a misfit Austrian, was elected Chancellor of Germany in 1933. He soon began his crusade against Jews, gypsies, homosexuals and others deemed not to be members of the "Master Race". He introduced concentration camps of which many were death camps where an estimated six million Jews were gassed to death.
L to R: Franco [BBC], Hitler [Wikipedia], Mussolini [RTVE.es]
Astonishingly the rest of the world looked on and did nothing.
When Hitler's troops invaded Czechoslovakia, Great Britain declared war on Germany. This was 1939. Benito Mussolini, the fascist dictator in Italy, joined in and conquered large parts of North Africa.
War also broke out in the Far East with Japan invading neighbouring countries. Their ill-judged attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, in 1940, brought America into the war.
This was now a World War, which lasted until 1945 and left large parts of many countries devastated and millions dead.
Winston Churchill, Charles de Gaulle, the USA and Russia (the main allies) prevailed against Hitler and his Nazis, but at what cost to mankind?
Where am I going with this?
In Britain Winston became a popular Christian name. In Germany no parents have called their male offspring Adolf since the end of the war. The surname Hitler exists no more.
In Spain, the democratic governments since Franco's demise have gradually got round to erasing references to Franco and the dictatorship. The country is truly ashamed of that episode in its history.
Franco's body has been removed from the mausoleum he built, Valle de Los Caidos, and "re-interred" with his wife in a regular cemetery elsewhere. Any references to him, or his regime, street names, etc have had to be removed by law.
Valle de los Caidos [BBC]
Spain
The Spanish government of Pedro Sanchez passed a law in 2022, La Ley de Memoria Democratica.
Among its provisions was the removal of Francoist symbols from public spaces and the prohibition of celebrations of the military coup in 1936, the Civil War from 1936-1939 and the dictatorship from 1939-1975.
Franco's birthplace, El Ferrol in Galicia, acquired the addition "del Caudillo" in honour of the fascist leader. That addition has now been removed.
Streets and squares whose names referenced Franco and the Civil War, including significant dates, have been renamed.
Three years on since the law was passed, progress has been slow.
[La Voz de Galicia]
Near where I live in Malaga province in Andalucia, the town of Villafranco del Guadalhorce has recently dropped the "Franco" and henceforth will be officially known as Villa del Guadalhorce.
Yet there are still towns which are refusing to conform to the law. Alberche del Caudillo, Llanos del Caudillo, and San Leonardo de Yague are three examples.
Despite fines of 10,000 euros being applicable, none have been levied to date.
I guess this one will run and run.
Once all who lived in the time of Franco's dictatorship have died, maybe Spain can apply the law and the topic can be finally put to rest.
© The History Man
Acknowledgements:
Adam Husicka, The History Man, The Olive Press, Paul Whitelock, Wikipedia
Photos:
Alamy, BBC, BBC History Magazine, Freepik, La Voz de Galicia, New York Times, Wikipedia
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Adam Husicka, Alamy, BBC, BBC History Magazine, Freepik, La Voz de Galicia, New York Times, The History Man, The Olive Press, Paul Whitelock, Wikipedia