Franco: Soldier, Commander, Dictator

Francisco Franco surely must have lamented being born into a once-proud Spain that now seemed doomed. The military had recently been defeated in a war with empire-expanding America, resulting in armed forces that were untrained, demoralized, insubordinate, and impoverished--in short, little able to defend Spain against future enemies. Readers seeking a clear-headed look at General Franco's life will like Geoffrey Jensen's concise biography, especially since it focuses on this Spanish leader's military defense of the West (as exemplified in Spain), including Christianity and other deeply rooted traditions. A lifelong opponent of communism and libertarian anarchy, Franco excelled after the Civil War as "a cold warrior and ally of Western democracies." Many today take personal pride in denouncing Franco's apparent "brutality," but it's almost certain that they don't understand how extreme measures can also be effective and, ironically, even humane. Jensen reports that Franco "successfully restored discipline in his Legion battalion by making his soldiers march past the body of a fellow legionnaire whom he had ordered shot on the spot for insubordination." Similarly, historian Antony Beevor found that at Franco's "first parade a legionnaire mimicked his high-pitched tone. Franco apparently drew his revolver, shot him dead and then continued as if nothing had happened." In its ability to stem the downward spiral of insubordination, a little up front deterrence will, in the long run, save the lives (and suffering) of countless soldiers. Did America drop the atom bombs on Japan because Truman was simply mean or brutal? Not at all! But does anyone doubt that Truman would have been branded an incorrigible villain (or hanged as a war criminal) if the Japanese had somehow been victorious in war after Nagasaki? No doubt, militarily superior countries with vast technological arsenals will posture freely about "winning the hearts and minds" of their enemies, but Jensen points out that Franco had to rely upon a bushido-like military spirit instead. There would be few features in local newspapers portraying soldiers as humanitarians or goodwill ambassadors. Yes, Jensen describes Franco as a conservative, cautious general who had to build discipline and a fighting spirit into Spanish armed forces that had grown lax in a divided country. Without adequate technological advantages on the battlefield, Franco was forced to forgo armed operations such as the blitzkrieg in favor of a military mystique that called for increased fighting spirit. Jose Millan-Astray led the way. As Jensen says, "From the beginning, the founder of the [Spanish Foreign] Legion exalted danger and death in highly spiritual terms. The Legion's motto, `Legionnaires, to fight; Legionnaires, to die,' was no empty phrase. Indeed, the Legionnaire's Creed, as Millan-Astray later wrote, proclaimed death in combat to be the `highest honor." Accordingly, Jensen continues, "Cus

Another in the Potomac Books Military Profiles Series. I'm reading them all one by one. Not a single word too many. Short & sweet.

I have read many books about the Spanish Civil War and Franco's participation in it. This is a nice summary history of a brutal dictator who had people executed. It also explains his plodding military campaign that was ultimately a success. It is clear that the author does not put Franco as a heroic dictator or right wing fanatic, but as a leader of his times who skillfully evaded the tenacles of Nazi Germany. Franco was a more skillful politician than soldier. This is a great read for those who desire to know more about Franco and Spain. It is not lengthy, so can be read in one day.

Centinela de occidente, caudillo de España por la gracia de Dios,vencedor de los rojos en el campo de batalla, el unico que lo hizo.