Falange

Falange was a totalitarian right-wing political organization, which constituted the official single party in Spain between 1939 and 1975. A Falangist (Spanish: Falangista) is a member of this party.

Table of contents

1 Origins 2 Spanish Civil War 3 Ideology 4 Symbols 5 See also 6 External link

Origins

Falange was a small party founded in the 1930s by José Antonio Primo de Rivera, a lawyer son of former dictator General Miguel Primo de Rivera, and by Onésimo Redondo and others. It united with several other small parties, becoming Falange Española de las JONS (Juntas de Ofensiva Nacional-Sindicalista), or "Spanish Phalanx of the Assemblies of National-Unionist Offensive".

During the Second Spanish Republic, its gunfighters became involved in street shootings with leftist revolutionaries. The results of the party in the elections were always very poor.

In July, 1936, when Primo de Rivera was arrested, the party joined the conspiracy to overthrow the Republic. in July 17, the African army led by Franco rebelled. In July 18, right-wing forces in mainland Spain followed suit.

Spanish Civil War

During Spanish Civil War, the Falangists fought on the "nationalist" side against the left-led Republic. In November 20, 1936, Primo de Rivera was murdered by leftists assaulting the prison. His death gave him martyr status for the Falangists.

After Franco seized power, he united Falange with the Carlist Monarchist Comunión Tradicionalista, forming Falange Española Tradicionalista de las JONS (FET de las JONS). Those who opposed, like Francisco Hedilla, were suppressed. It was also known as Movimiento Nacional.

After the war, the party was charged with developing an ideology to hold together Franco's regime. It became the typical cursus honorum for ambitious politicians. Those new converts were called camisas nuevas ("new shirts") in opposition to the "old shirts" from before the war.

Falange developed youth organizations (Flechas, Pelayos; compare to Hitlerjugend and Italian Balilla and Arditi), a female section (Sección Femenina) led by José Antonio's sister, that instructed young women on how to be good patriots, good Christians and good wives. Falange seized the property of opposition parties and trade unions.

Falangist ministers had an important role in early Franquism, but after the opening to the United States and the Spanish Miracle, Franco turned to Opus Dei and younger politicians.

After Franco's death, the Crown was re-instated and therefore the democratization was later led by Adolfo Suárez, a former chief of the Movimiento, atomized Falange. For the first elections in 1977, three different groups fought at court for the right to Falange's name. Virtually left out of the political mindshare, Falangist inspired parties (some claiming the heritage of Hedilla) are only seen publicly in State-funded TV election advertisements and during demonstrations on historic dates.

Ideology

• Corporate state in which class struggle would be superseded by the Vertical Trade Union, joining workers and owners.
• Roman Catholicism, with a touch of anti-clericalism.
• Attention to the Castilian farmers
• Pride in the history of the Spanish Empire
• Anti-communism and anti-anarchism

Symbols

• El yugo y las flechas (the yoke and arrows), symbol of the Reyes Católicos.
• The blue shirt, a symbol of industrial workers.
• The red beret of Carlism (after the unification).
• A flag with red, black and red vertical stripes, reminiscent of the Anarchist flag of the CNT.
• Cara al sol, "Facing the sun", its anthem.

See also

• José María Aznar, a Falangist in his teens.
• Lebanese Phalange, a Maronite party inspired by Falange.
• History of Spain
• Fascism

External link

• La Falange, Spanish Falange party website (in Spanish)