Franco's Regime
The Bombing of Barcelona (Italian air force). 17th March 1938, 14.15 h / © Arxiu fotogràfic del Centre d'Història Contemporània de Catalunya.
In the winter of 1939, Catalonia was occupied by Franco's army. The victory of the camp called national and the dictatorship established by General Franco brought along the exile, death and repression of many Republicans, worker parties and union activists all over Spain. The new regime immediately suppressed the Statute of Catalonia, crushed down any manisfestation of Catalanism and prohibited the public use of the Catalan language. In 1940, the President of the Generalitat, Lluís Companys, captured in France by the Nazis, was handed over to Franco's authorities and was executed in Barcelona.
After a long and cruel war, characterized by a climate of political and social repression and of economic and cultural backwardness, the Spain of Franco underwent, starting from the situation in 1959 and in spite of the adverse political conditions, a period of economic growth determined by the belated though rapid insertion of Spain in general and of Catalonia in a broader European process of development. This period corresponds to what is called "the glorious thirty years" (1945-1975).
In this period, Catalonia experienced a significant growth in population, that went from 3 to 6 million inhabitants between 1950 and 1980. This huge demographic leap was possible due to the existence of an industry that required labor force and the migratory contribution of people coming mainly from southern Spain. This demographic contribution has decisively given shape to today's Catalan society.
After a long and cruel war, characterized by a climate of political and social repression and of economic and cultural backwardness, the Spain of Franco underwent, starting from the situation in 1959 and in spite of the adverse political conditions, a period of economic growth determined by the belated though rapid insertion of Spain in general and of Catalonia in a broader European process of development. This period corresponds to what is called "the glorious thirty years" (1945-1975).
In this period, Catalonia experienced a significant growth in population, that went from 3 to 6 million inhabitants between 1950 and 1980. This huge demographic leap was possible due to the existence of an industry that required labor force and the migratory contribution of people coming mainly from southern Spain. This demographic contribution has decisively given shape to today's Catalan society.