Having had to teach about Franco many years ago - my research into
that man (who, incidentally, waved to me at The Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in
1973 - Real v Barcelona.) - I was surprised to learn that his claim to be a falangist was
significant. As one of the three best known leaders of the ultra right in Europe
in the 30s and beyond, he had precious little in common with either Hitler or
Mussolini - other than his totalitarian thinking.
Mussolini was an avowed socialist; Hitler was from a socialist
mindset - as were many other Nazis. But Franco was a different breed. He can
only be understood in the light of his deep Roman Catholicism combined with an
ultra-conservatism which was utterly alien to the other two
leaders. He was the man of capitalism; aristocracy and anti-socialism.
Franco was actually smarter than Hitler and Mussolini. He happily
took the latest weapons from both the others in order to win The Civil War in
1936-9. They thought that this would make him obligated to join the Axis powers in
World War Two.
Hitler and Franco met at the railway station at Irún/Hendaye in 1940 on the
French/Spanish border as Hitler decided to 'call in the
debt'.
This was so successful, that as he departed, Hitler was overheard
to say - "I would rather have all my teeth extracted without anaesthetic
than to ever have dealings with that man again!"
So. Bringing everything up to date - to which type is Trump more
comparable? Adding in Franco's aversion to imperialistic expansionism (Spanish
Morocco hardly counts) - he seems a much better model than the other
two.
