El Generalisimo A Biography of Francisco Franco

The first biography exploring both Francisco Franco's life and the enduring legacy of Francoism Supported by his allies, Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini, Francisco Franco rose to power by defeating the Loyalists in the Spanish Civil War that lasted from 1936 to 1939. Yet while Hitler and Mussolini did not survive World War II, Franco remained Spain's strongman ruler until his death thirty years later. Perhaps more compelling than how he gained absolute power is how he retained it for so long, virtually unopposed, making him one of history's most successful dictators. In El Generalisimo, Giles Tremlett reveals how Franco's ascent and extraordinary endurance stemmed from his determination to reverse history, returning Spain to its glory days as a globe-spanning empire. Fuelled by paranoia, a rigid sense of order and tradition, and a belief in the redemptive power of warfare--all the earmarks of fascism--Franco moved rapidly through the ranks in the army and took advantage of political and social upheaval to launch a revolt against democracy.