The falangist attack at the civilian governments. The joining policy of the positions of civil governor and provincial chief of FET-JONS (1938-1945)

Abstract

During the first years of the Francoist dictatorship, the positions of civil governor and provincial chief of FET-JONS were joined together in order to solve the usual struggles between both institutions. This situation has been usually judged as an example of the Falangist defeat and the subordination of the single-party to the State. This essay seeks to offer new key elements related to the origins, development and sense of this union through the analysis of its process of implementation and the new governors’ profile. The article shows that this solution was demanded and promoted by Falange and it led to the almost systematic appointment of convinced Falangists, paving the way for a central role of FET-JONS in the provincial politics control.