Still Dead Trivia Quiz

Answer: They were officers in the Navy

Six generations of his family had served as officers in the Navy. Several of the men--including Franco's father--had reached the rank of Admiral. Barring certain events, Franco himself also would have likely made a career in the Navy. Following the Spanish-American War (1898), Spain lost several of its colonies. With the needs of the Navy significantly reduced, no officer candidates were recruited in the years 1906-1913.

As Franco was born in 1892, the period when he would have been a career in the Navy fell into this time span.

Answer: In class ranking he was in the fourth quartile

Out of 312 students in his graduating class, he ranked 251. Franco was generally successful in academic coursework, utilizing a good memory. However, his short stature led to some bullying and made him less adept in the physical part of the school's requirements. Nonetheless, he received a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Spanish Army upon graduation in 1910.

Earlier, Franco had attended a private elementary school run by a priest. He spent two years in a secondary school with a naval focus, leaving when it seemed unlikely he would receive a commission in the Spanish Navy.

Answer: Spanish Morocco

By the 20th century, Spain's empire was far reduced from what it had included in the eighteenth century, or even before 1898, when Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippine Islands had been lost. Franco voluntarily accepted a transfer to Spanish Morocco to fight against insurgency there in 1912. The next year he was promoted to First Lieutenant and was assigned to an elite regiment of native Moroccan cavalry.

While in Morocco, Franco received a gunshot injury in his abdomen. He also received several merit-based promotions in the army, becoming a general at the young age of 33. By comparison, ten years later, only a relatively few of Franco's classmates at the Toledo Infantry Academy had even reached the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

Answer: Gregarious

Franco was described as a man of relatively few friends and not one to engage in "frivolous" (read fun) pursuits. In my opinion, he seems to have been more respected than liked. Franco's piety was learned from his mother. His commitment to Roman Catholicism was also seen in his later career.

He was noted for being honest, and being more concerned than was average for the welfare of his troops. Franco was an effective commander and noted for his dedication to his profession.

Answer: One daughter

Carmen Franco (1926-2017) was the only daughter and only child of Francisco Franco and Carmen Polo. Some have suggested that she secretly may have been daughter of Franco's brother and a prostitute. In 1975, King Juan Carlos named her the 1st Duchess of Franco.

She was succeeded in this title by her eldest daughter. Franco's relationship with his daughter was described as close, though his busy career led to his wife being responsible for much of the child-rearing.

Answer: He was commander of the General Military Academy of Zaragoza

Alfonso XIII had been King his entire life. His father--Alfonso XII--had died before he was born and a regency ruled Spain during the months before the son's birth. Alfonso went into exile and died in 1941.

Franco was appointed commander of the Military Academy in 1928. (Spain had decided to consolidate the military schools into one institution.) Franco had a reputation as a monarchist, and one who held authoritarian beliefs. The Republican government that ruled Spain shut down the Academy not long after the abdication. During the upcoming Civil War, a large majority--over 90%--were on Franco's side.

Answer: He was on the side of the Nationalists

Franco was appointed Generalisimo (or Commander-in-Chief) of the Nationalists. Both sides were broad-based coalitions that often had their most extreme elements emphasized by popular perception. The Nationalists included members of the Falange, the Spanish Fascist party.

This has led to some debate as to whether the Nationalist government that ruled Spain after the war was Fascist or merely authoritarian. Despite being an civil war, there was international perception, with Germany and Italy supporting the Nationalists and the Soviet Union supporting the Popular Front.

The capture of Barcelona in January 1939 and of Madrid in March 1939 concluded the conflict.

Answer: Despite Franco's sympathy to the Axis, Spain remained neutral.

Franco and Adolf Hitler met in October 1940 to discuss the possibility of Spain entering the war on the side of the Axis. Franco included enough conditions to Spain's entry in the war--including Spain receiving many of France's colonies in northern Africa--that negotiations ultimately broke down with Spain remaining neutral. Hitler would later describe the experience of negotiation as being like "pulling teeth".

Supporters of Franco suggest that Franco lacked interest in bringing Spain into World War II and used the long list of conditions as a way to save face while keeping Spain out of the war. Franco did provide some support for the Axis side without becoming involved in the fighting. It may be that Franco, as a devout Catholic, was turned off by what he saw as the antipathy to Christianity of the Nazis.

Answer: True

Officially in the first few years of his rule, Franco had as much power as any dictator in history--not needing the support of any other officials when he made a decision. Over time, his rule moderated and included some limited freedom for other political parties.

His reputation improved in some circles as he was seen as a reliable opponent of Communism. In addition, late in his reign, Franco began to step back from the day to day decision making practice.

Answer: He did not particularly like him

Juan lived until 1993 and did not formally renounce his right to the throne, two years after Juan Carlos became King. The simple answer is that Franco and Juan did not like each other. Juan referred to Franco at least once as an "illegitimate usurper", and often pressed Franco to restore the Spanish monarchy. Franco, for his part, was concerned that Juan would undo many of the changes that Franco had made and restore democracy to Spain.

Franco felt that Juan Carlos would support and maintain Spain as Franco had shaped it. When Franco died in November 1975, Juan Carlos was proclaimed king. King Juan Carlos, to the surprise of many, strongly supported the idea of constitutional monarchy and establishing Spain as a democracy--exactly what Franco thought Juan would do.