[Angelino97]

Technically, Franco was a Falangist, not a Fascist. Although perhaps not even that.

Some say Franco wasn't too ideological. A conservative authoritarian and a pragmatist, who united the anti-Communist factions -- Falangist, Carlist, Monarchist, etc. -- to fight the Reds.

[jmacusa]

He was a totalitarian thug who was sympathetic to the Nazis and sent the Blue Division to fight in Russia.

It was only long after he was dead that it was safe to say you opposed him. I don't imagine Franco is well thought of Guernica.

[NorthMountain]

to fight the Reds.

And that is why the communists hated him beyond the grave. Leftists in "Big Entertainment" sneered at him after his death. That idiotic bit on SNL was leftist pro-communist propaganda.

[Grampa Dave]

Falange | political organization, Spain

Encyclopedia Britannica
https://www.britannica.com › topic › Falange

The Falange’s membership was over 250,000 when Franco seized control of it in 1937, and more than 150,000 Falangists served in Franco’s armed forces during the ...
Founder: Falange

Died: November 20, 1936 (aged 33) Alicante ...

[Reily]

You’re exactly right! I don’t think Franco ever formally was a Falange. Franco adopted Fascist trappings, although very few scholars consider him to be a “core fascist”. Politically he was a Francoist if he was anything at all.