Arriba Espana: Remembering Franco

So I decided to do a little piece for Francisco Franco. Fransisco was one of the more prominent leaders in Spanish history. He rose to power in the 1930s under the ideology of Fascism. During this time Spain was involved in a bloody civil war. It was Franco was leading a fascist revoultion agsint the Spanish Republic. A communist government he and many others viewed as illegitimate.

Now some back story. Whatever your opinions of Franco may be I believe he was what was needed for Spain at the time. The Soviet Union was shilling the side of the Spanish Republic; the communist side in the war. It was in hopes to create a satellite state much like they did in Eastern Europe after World War Two. The Soviets wished to enact a puppet government and use it as a shill on the western front.

Franco decided to do something about that and fought back. Now while the Republic was being shilled by the Soviets and Mexico strangely enough, Franco received aide from Germany and Italy. Italy because Mussolini was supporting a fellow fascist and Germany because he was anti Communist. Hitler sent a few Condor legions to help out and Mussolini supplied foodstuffs and a few military trucks.

What was impressive about him was how Machiavellian he was in his approach and strategy. He was cozy enough to Hitler to get supplies and troops from him but strayed away enough to not get pulled into the war and become a satellite state of the Reich. His anti-Communist stance also kept Hitler from going after to him as well as keeping the allies from gunning for him and left him survive after the war since they new his was one less state they would have to worry about falling to communism.

He brought his country up from the depression and kept it nice and clean. Interestingly enough we did not seem to mind him. There was never a revolt against Franco and he passed way peacefully at an old age. Richard Nixon even gave him a short eulogy saying that he was a good friend and ally to the U.S. He has also became something of a running gag and meme on SNL. In news stations in America, if it was a slow news day reporters would comment on the condition of Franco in his final days of life saying; "Francisco Franco is still alive." After he actually died SNL used this as a running gag until 78.


Anyway here's the anthem of Spain (which is pretty damn catchy) during Franco's rule. Please note the Bellamy/Roman salute is used in the vid. Before any P.C complainer comes here and tells me "Bwaaaaa Nazi. Bwaaaah." it was not always associated with the Nazis. The salute, which it he hand extended in front of the body usually seen in documentaries of Nazi rallies originated in Rome. Benito revived it as a form of Italian pride and it was one of the many things Hitler copy-catted from him. If you want to know the real kicker this is how the pledge of allegiance used to be recited


What's even better is that it was written by a socialist no less. So the Communist have no right to compare America to a Nazi state for reciting a patriotic pledge written by a socialist ( Party99999999 ). Anyway enjoy the anthem. It's called Cara al Sol: Face the Sun (P.S: The anniversary of his death was five days ago on the 20th)