On December 4th, 1892, Francisco Franco was born. Franco was in the Spanish army, and in 1936 helped stage a coup to try and take over the Spanish government. While he didn’t succeed, he helped start the Spanish Civil War. He took over control of the country in 1939 until 1975. The Catalans of Barcelona were especially punished and their language was then found to be illegal.
When I visited Barcelona with friends, I bought several books, one pop-up I bought in Catalan, not Spanish, L’Escull” by Pipa I Otto A, published in 2022.
Much of my history of Franco, Catalans, and Barcelona comes from “Barcelona” by Robert Hughes, 1993. We had a great walking tour of Barcelona, and the guide recommended this book.
A church in Barcelona-Santa Maria Del Mar, was Catalan, and made ‘for the people’. During the Spanish Civil War, the cathedral was set on fire. It burned for eleven days. All of the wooden pews, alters, wall hangings and even the murals painted on the walls were all destroyed. I have the book “Santa Maria Del Mar” by Francesc Toet i Mitjans, 1990. It shows how beautiful this Cathedral still is.
A friend and I walked from the hotel we were staying at, and visited Santa Maria Del Mar. We took several pictures. You can still see blackened bricks from the fire.
We were able to even climb to the roof. This picture was taken by my wife at the rooftop bar at our hotel. You can see us waving from the roof.
As well as the burning of the cathedral, Franco ordered bombing of Plaça de Sant Felip Neri. It is a small square with Sant Felip Neri church and school. Forty two people, mostly children died in the blasts. Barcelona has kept the damaged wall as it was, to remember the attack.
I have the book “Saturday Night Live – The First Twenty Years” edited by Michael Cader, 1994.
When describing Weekend Update with Chevy Chase, he remarked on the last weekend of November, 1975 (after November 20th), and then all of December:
“Good evening. I’m Chevy Chase, and You’re not. In the news, Generalissimo Fransisco Franco is still dead….Good night and have a pleasant tomorrow.”
Francisco Franco was sick the last few years of his control over Spain, and spent a lot of time in hospitals. His plan was to have Prime Minister Luis Carrero Blanco take over. On December 20, 1973, terrorists blew up his car as he was driving from Mass to his office. The explosives were so strong, that his car flew sixty five feet in the air, over a building, and landed onto a patio on the other side of the building. He was 69, and survived the car “accident” for about twenty four hours. Franco’s health rapidly declined, both mentally and physically after the bombing and death of his Prime Minister.
While it was not good for Luis Carrero Blanco, December 4th is right in the middle of National Older Driver Safety Awareness week (the first week of December). When shopping in a 100 yen store in Japan, I came across a magnetic sticker for cars. Most countries have a decal for young new drivers. Japan has one for seniors. I bought one for my Jeep. It was born in 1998 so we are both old.
No one had noticed, or at least asked me what the decal was about for six years. Two weeks ago, my retired neighbor asked me if I knew what that symbol was? I told him that I did, and “why?” He told me that I did not look 70, the age drivers are recommended to put on vehicles in Japan. I bought him a beer.
Thanks for reading.
What do you call a Spanish man who has lost his car? Carlos. I hope you found that wheely funny.
*Francisco Franco
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