Francisco Franco, the Nationalist dictator of Spain, ruled with an iron fist from 1939 to 1975. After winning the Spanish Civil War, Franco established a repressive regime that suppressed political dissent, curtailed civil liberties, and promoted a cult of personality. His regime was characterized by widespread human rights abuses, including arbitrary arrests, torture, and executions. Franco's dictatorship also pursued a policy of economic autarky, which isolated Spain from the rest of Europe and led to widespread poverty and economic stagnation. Franco's death in 1975 marked the end of his oppressive rule and paved the way for Spain's transition to democracy.
