Oh, this again. So joining the Allies was never an option for him? Those terrible Allies. Imagine the war ending in 1942 instead of 1945.
“So joining the Allies was never an option for him?”
Not until at least 1945, no. Seriously, do you have any idea of what you’re talking about? In 1939, Spain was exhausted and in ruins. Spain was officially allied with Italy and Germany but Franco remained a passive ally and refused Hitler’s repeated requests that he openly side with the Axis powers and engage in battle. Until his neighbor - France - was freed of the Nazi occupation there was zero chance Franco would side with the Allies. And even if he wanted to side with them, why would he put his men and his resources in harm’s way after an exhausting three year long civil war?
“Those terrible Allies.”
Those Allies had been railing against Franco for years. Franco had no reason to assume they were his friends. As the Cold War heated up, the Allies suddenly lost their distaste of Franco.
“Imagine the war ending in 1942 instead of 1945.”
Imagine France and the U.K. simply doing their job and ending the war before it began. They had every right to remove Hitler from power in 1936 and could have done it easily. They did nothing but talk because of the Depression and their continuing pain over the losses of World War I. Hindsight is great is it not?