Spain under franco max gallo biography

Spain under Franco: a history by Max Gallo, translated by Jean Stewart

London: George Allen & Unwin Ltd, 1973 (originally published in French in 1969)

ISBN 0049460099

This an interesting, if somewhat dense, book that focuses on the politics of Franco and the various branches of the opposition to his rule, between the Civil Warand the end of the 60s.

Starting with the end of the Civil War, Gallo describes how the defining characteristic of Franco was his caution - he never made a move unless he was certain of the outcome, or had another path to take if needed.

Thus although he relied on the Axis powers for his victory in the Civil War, he was able to obfuscate around joining the battle against the Allied Powers, and nimbly move to the "other" side when the outcome of hostilities became obvious.

Once the War was over, Franco kept control through a classic "divide and rule" strategy, periodically seeming to acquiesce to the claims of one or other of the Falange, Carlists