[B-Chan]

Franco despised Hitler, although he was not above accepting the Führer's help against the communists. During World War II, Franco's neutral Spain served as a conduit for thousands of French Jews fleeing the deportation, and Franco steadfastly refused to allow Hitler access to Spanish resources and facilities throughout the war. As for his brutal repression of the remaining communists in Spain after the civil war: if you'd been in his shoes, you'd have done exactly the same thing.

Franco was no Fascist, at least not by the definition of Fascism established by il Duce; he was far too good a Catholic to have subscribed to the state-worshipping philosophy of the atheist Mussolini.

[curmudgeonII]

Franco despised Hitler,

What on earth do you think Franco's Falange was, if not a direct copy of the Italian Fasciti and the German Nazis? The only advantage that Franmco had over the German and Italian dictators was that he [Franco] was astute enough not to drag Spain into World War II. Spain had enough damage to repair from the 1930's Civil War that he did not need to take any other militaristic ventures.

The rest of the Right wing dictator policies were copied rather scrupulously by Franco - a shut down of all opposition, even free speech, jailing and execution of Freemasons, concentration camps, execution of political opponents,etc.

[Alter Kaker]

Franco despised Hitler.

Yes, in 1945 Franco woke up one morning and decided he had hated Hitler all time. Hatred here is so obvious.

[chilepepper]

Exactly. True fascism is socialism merged with nationalism, and Franco was only mildly socialist by todays standards. Pinochet did, however, use Franco as a practical model on how to govern, and in the end ceded power on his own, which Franco also did.

Franco was way too smart to be Hitler's lapdog and his navigating Spain through WWII without joining sides was nothing short of brilliant. He probably disdained Hitler rather than "hate" him though...