Post Axis Spain

What would a post Axis Spain look like, that is a Spain that joined the war on the Axis side and lost, and Franco like other fascist leaders bit it.
 
What would a post Axis Spain look like, that is a Spain that joined the war on the Axis side and lost, and Franco like other fascist leaders bit it.

Well that depends on how Spain is defeated? Are they invaded per se, or are they just bombarded and blockaded from air and sea until they surrender?

In general, I can see there remaining a major fascist resistance, and politics will likely be extremely divided between right and left, with an Allied-backed "moderate" government only having nominal support.
 
Well that depends on how Spain is defeated? Are they invaded per se, or are they just bombarded and blockaded from air and sea until they surrender?

In general, I can see there remaining a major fascist resistance, and politics will likely be extremely divided between right and left, with an Allied-backed "moderate" government only having nominal support.

Would it still exist as a whole and unified country? I don't see why a Spain that picked a losing side and was invaded would remain Spain. I imagine there would be a lot more support for Basque and Catalan independence at least.
 
Would it still exist as a whole and unified country? I don't see why a Spain that picked a losing side and was invaded would remain Spain. I imagine there would be a lot more support for Basque and Catalan independence at least.

It's possible, but it really depends on if this is in America and Britain's interest. Spain wasn't a real threat as is, so there's not much point in breaking it up. A decentralized government is quite likely though, and I think that's what they would go for to placate the minorities.
 

Insider

Banned
Truman, Churchil, DeGaule and their successors. And whatever governers and figureheads they would choose.
 
Depends a lot on how things play out, there will probably be a referendum on the monarchy; which the republicans will likely win after a devastating war; the exiled republicans are going to come back and begin again in politics, if the post fascist government in Italy is anything to go by there will be an emergent situation of a powerful communist party as second party, with a major right wing republican party propped up by the allies against them, with the major point of departure from there being the fact that Spain is the only major European country to have an anarchist following of any size, who are likely to adopt some kind of third campist position against the communists and republican right. Spain will probably a very interesting time once the sixties come around and totally shake up the left wing.

One fairly major change for the whole world will possibly be seeing the anarchism in Spain be more of an inspiration for the alt-new left rather than Maoism.
 

shiftygiant

Gone Fishin'
Looks like Italy, but not as severally punished, but the Government's undergoing a shuffle. Portuguese (I must assume they were a belligerent and WAllies) will go for and get Galicia, Catalonia and Basque will break off, and the territories will be given to the UN to divide among France, Britain, and Portugal. Franco might not even be dead in the post-war, but constitutionally barred from becoming leader. Spanish Monarchy will be restored.
 
Looks like Italy, but not as severally punished, but the Government's undergoing a shuffle. Portuguese (I must assume they were a belligerent and WAllies) will go for and get Galicia, Catalonia and Basque will break off, and the territories will be given to the UN to divide among France, Britain, and Portugal. Franco might not even be dead in the post-war, but constitutionally barred from becoming leader. Spanish Monarchy will be restored.

All of these measures would be unique among Axis nations, and in the case of partition of Non-Spanish regions comes across as just kind of insane (why not just create independent states out of them, given how their nationalists are among the opposition to Franco. Restoring the monarchy also doesn't really make sense in the context of Italy where the monarchy was put to a vote.

And I think that in any scenario where at the end of the war Franco is still alive will end up with him hanging, if not for the crimes during the World war Then for the crimes during the civil war due to that likely being when he will have been thought to have joined the axis. They won't want him still around or having much freedom.
 
What about re-writing the Spanish Constitution so that it becomes more of a confederation with individual states deciding local matters, with the federal government limited to external affairs and a few matters that cross state borders (eg. rivers and railroads)?
 
Looks like Italy, but not as severally punished, but the Government's undergoing a shuffle.
does not square with
Portuguese (I must assume they were a belligerent and WAllies) will go for and get Galicia,

I really don't think there's a will to grab up European territory among the WAllies. Maybe the UK can squat in the area around Gibraltar and incorporate it under the table but I think even the Canaries will stay Spanish.

Portugal will get Tangier and Ceuta, and France will get the rest of Morocco and Spanish Sahara. The two would split up Spanish Guinea as well. Bioko goes to Portugal, Río Muni to France.
 
In what was proper Spanish territory, I doubt there'd any changes, Spain would have been a very minor ally to the Nazis, given the poor state of its military. Now, it really depends on how things turn out. The idea of parts of Spain becoming independent (or Galicia joining Portugal!) are fairly ridiculous. Guinea and the Spanish Sahara and Morocco would probably become either independent or mandates managed by France.

As for the situation of Spain it's hard to say, since by 1939-41 (when I assume Franco would lead Spain into the war), Franco's position was as strong as it would be after WWII and OTL he had to tread carefully to maintain the monarchists on his side, especially as the Army was overwhelmingly monarchist (Falangist officers were essentially Muñoz Grandes and Yagüe and basta). If the situation turns sour between Hitler and Franco, he might be dethroned by more falangist elements led by the cuñadísimo Serrano Súñer and some German troops. Or he survives until he is killed by a monarchist coup in 1944 or 1945 trying to save monarchism from going down with the dictatorship.

Whatever the outcome, by 1945 OTL or TTL the Count of Barcelona was not the representative of a modern monarchy fully on board with democracy but a person treading the line between pleasing his democratic monarchists circle in Estoril or his authoritarian monarchists supporters within Spain. However, a referendum on the monarchy might be possible, but I'm not sure how likely, could the Brits' preferred solution. Probably the republican option would win.

Now, the political situation in Spain would be complicated after the war. The republican parties were essentially bourgeois clubs with little mass appeal, as opposed to the powerful organisations of the Catholics (CEDA with JAP, Acción Católica, ANCP, El Debate, CONCA, etc.) or the Socialists (PSOE with JS, FNTT, UGT, etc.). Meanwhile the Comunists might be popular, but they were thoroughly hated by everyone else and indeed I suspect they might do well early on but soon lose their main position on the left (if they ever obtain it) to the PSOE, which had better cadres if it lacked a proper military structure against the dictatorship in the form of maquis. On the right, I suspect there'd be a large CEDA/DC-like Christian democratic party, reconciled with republicanism (especially since it's likely the 1931 Constitution's controversial anti-clerical articles, specifically the 26th, would be toned down in an effort to make a more conciliatory constitution) would lead the right. In between, a large number of liberal or progressive republican parties, probably catching about 20% of the votes altogether. Indeed, there'd a situation similar to that of Italy post-WWII, although probably with less musical chairs, since the main factor of instability in the 2nd Republic was the semi-presidential feature of the system, so the figure of the President of the Republic would be reduced to a figurehead. The electoral system would probably be PR, as opposed to the weird system employed in the 30s. A Senate along corporatist lines might be introduced to please the right.

The PNV, the Catalanists and the galleguistas will all be important political forces in Spain and the model of the 'Estado integral' will probably be retained, which means Spain will feature an administrative structure similar to that of Italy OTL (unitary but with autonomous regions), only that those regions are much more autonomous than their Italian counterparts. Given the difficulties involved in obtaining autonomy (2/3 city councils voting yes, 2/3 of electoral census, so voters+abstention also voting yes), it's unlikely it'd be expanded any time soon. But the various forces, especially the Catalanists will be quite integrated into the national political scene, as members of various governments. Indeed ERC might be one of the largest liberal parties in the Parliament, alongside some kind of descendant of IR/UR (left-republican) and some kind of liberal republicans (descendants of the PRR, Salvador de Madariaga style) or some conservative republicans (probably a very small group).

The big issues of post-war Spain will be reconstruction (I suspect Spain will get a lot of help, due to Civil War + WWII destruction), land reform in the south (breaking up large estates) and maybe -unlikely- in the north (merging small plots of land) and development of the pre-war social policies. As for what would happen with divorce it's hard to say.

As Eliphas mentions, the CNT will have a difficult position, the war and WWII will have damaged its structure and numbers a lot and it'll face the same dilemma it did every time it faced a progressive government, whether to cooperate or to be obstructive and hope for a revolution to appear out of thin air. Probably, it'll suffer some decline as material wealth goes up, given that the CNT was the union for the worse-off workers while UGT was more for the 'labour aristocracy'. In any case, I suspect Spain will have some advanced social legislation in some matters, which might be a problem for economic development, given the country's relative advantage on its cheap workforce within the Western European context, although that won't stop a fast and strong economic development for quite some time.
 
In what was proper Spanish territory, I doubt there'd any changes, Spain would have been a very minor ally to the Nazis, given the poor state of its military. Now, it really depends on how things turn out. The idea of parts of Spain becoming independent (or Galicia joining Portugal!) are fairly ridiculous. Guinea and the Spanish Sahara and Morocco would probably become either independent or mandates managed by France.

As for the situation of Spain it's hard to say, since by 1939-41 (when I assume Franco would lead Spain into the war), Franco's position was as strong as it would be after WWII and OTL he had to tread carefully to maintain the monarchists on his side, especially as the Army was overwhelmingly monarchist (Falangist officers were essentially Muñoz Grandes and Yagüe and basta). If the situation turns sour between Hitler and Franco, he might be dethroned by more falangist elements led by the cuñadísimo Serrano Súñer and some German troops. Or he survives until he is killed by a monarchist coup in 1944 or 1945 trying to save monarchism from going down with the dictatorship.

Whatever the outcome, by 1945 OTL or TTL the Count of Barcelona was not the representative of a modern monarchy fully on board with democracy but a person treading the line between pleasing his democratic monarchists circle in Estoril or his authoritarian monarchists supporters within Spain. However, a referendum on the monarchy might be possible, but I'm not sure how likely, could the Brits' preferred solution. Probably the republican option would win.

Now, the political situation in Spain would be complicated after the war. The republican parties were essentially bourgeois clubs with little mass appeal, as opposed to the powerful organisations of the Catholics (CEDA with JAP, Acción Católica, ANCP, El Debate, CONCA, etc.) or the Socialists (PSOE with JS, FNTT, UGT, etc.). Meanwhile the Comunists might be popular, but they were thoroughly hated by everyone else and indeed I suspect they might do well early on but soon lose their main position on the left (if they ever obtain it) to the PSOE, which had better cadres if it lacked a proper military structure against the dictatorship in the form of maquis. On the right, I suspect there'd be a large CEDA/DC-like Christian democratic party, reconciled with republicanism (especially since it's likely the 1931 Constitution's controversial anti-clerical articles, specifically the 26th, would be toned down in an effort to make a more conciliatory constitution) would lead the right. In between, a large number of liberal or progressive republican parties, probably catching about 20% of the votes altogether. Indeed, there'd a situation similar to that of Italy post-WWII, although probably with less musical chairs, since the main factor of instability in the 2nd Republic was the semi-presidential feature of the system, so the figure of the President of the Republic would be reduced to a figurehead. The electoral system would probably be PR, as opposed to the weird system employed in the 30s. A Senate along corporatist lines might be introduced to please the right.

The PNV, the Catalanists and the galleguistas will all be important political forces in Spain and the model of the 'Estado integral' will probably be retained, which means Spain will feature an administrative structure similar to that of Italy OTL (unitary but with autonomous regions), only that those regions are much more autonomous than their Italian counterparts. Given the difficulties involved in obtaining autonomy (2/3 city councils voting yes, 2/3 of electoral census, so voters+abstention also voting yes), it's unlikely it'd be expanded any time soon. But the various forces, especially the Catalanists will be quite integrated into the national political scene, as members of various governments. Indeed ERC might be one of the largest liberal parties in the Parliament, alongside some kind of descendant of IR/UR (left-republican) and some kind of liberal republicans (descendants of the PRR, Salvador de Madariaga style) or some conservative republicans (probably a very small group).

The big issues of post-war Spain will be reconstruction (I suspect Spain will get a lot of help, due to Civil War + WWII destruction), land reform in the south (breaking up large estates) and maybe -unlikely- in the north (merging small plots of land) and development of the pre-war social policies. As for what would happen with divorce it's hard to say.

As Eliphas mentions, the CNT will have a difficult position, the war and WWII will have damaged its structure and numbers a lot and it'll face the same dilemma it did every time it faced a progressive government, whether to cooperate or to be obstructive and hope for a revolution to appear out of thin air. Probably, it'll suffer some decline as material wealth goes up, given that the CNT was the union for the worse-off workers while UGT was more for the 'labour aristocracy'. In any case, I suspect Spain will have some advanced social legislation in some matters, which might be a problem for economic development, given the country's relative advantage on its cheap workforce within the Western European context, although that won't stop a fast and strong economic development for quite some time.

This is a very good analysis. Regarding the CNT, I think they would suffer during the immediate post-war due to the effects of the repression and exile after the Civil War, but they probably woukd recover numbers and efficient cadres in the 50's with the eventual economical devepment, since it will mean a rural exodus to the industrial poles like in OTL and that population will be susceptible to join the CNT before the UGT. It would be a bit like the Comisiones Obreras in OTL (and with the same assambleary and autonomous spirit) but without the circumstances of clandestinity etc that finally made CCOO an extension of the PCE, and with a tradition and identity to reclaim. Also, I agree they would face political dilemas, the aforementioned choice between cooperation or obstruction under progressive governments and also the level of integration in the post-war social pact. But we could have perfectly in the 80's two big unions in the form of UGT and CNT.

Regarding the communists, probably they would have better results than during the Second Republic, thanks to Moscow and their organizative expansion during the war and the french exile, but unlike other western countries they would face a strong opposition from the rest of the left, so I don't think they would become an hegemonic force in the left, taking that role the PSOE and with the PCE continiously struggling between them and potential coalitions of forces in their left with at least a notable support.

And regarding decentralization, once the postwar ends and a new generation born after the Civil War is in charge, I can see further decentralization and a reasonable support for a federal state, not only in GalEusCa but also in places like Andalusia, Valencia or Asturias.

On the other hand, that demochristian force probably would rally around Gil-Robles, and some kind of symbolic reconciliation pact would be signed by several political leaders from the right and left under the azañist idea of Peace, Mercy and Forgivness, as a first step befoire biding to join the borning european institutions.
 
...thank you. Just thank you.

The funny thing about the colonies is that none of them are more likely to switch hands than France's did. Unlike with Italy, there is a Spanish government in exile. Negrin spent the whole war in London. And even Italy was given Somalia back because the place is a dump.

Spain's colonies are a dump too.

So we have Britain+Commonwealth and the Free French recognize Negrin's government as soon as bombs start dropping on Gibraltar.

The first to be taken is Spanish Guinea. By the Free French. Which include lots of Free Spanish. Let the Spanish run Guinea, its only value is moral and propaganda.

Gibraltar falls. Salazar is not going to risk invasion and his own neck out of love for Britain. He keeps an armed neutrality and denies the Allies use of the Açores to not provoke the Axis. Not that it matters, because the Allies' next target is the Canaries, which fall easily, and with them Sahara and Ifni. Negrin now has a real Spanish province - and his birthplace - under control. Even if Franco is dumb enough to send forces there (he isn't) he can't unless Vichy France allows him to send an army over Morocco. But if he is, Vichy France goes "lol cannot do because we are totally neutral" and that's the end of it. The odd ship he has and has not bren sunk yet is needed to patrol the straits and the Peninsula.

Then comes *Torch, which includes Spanish Morocco, and no long after Andalusia. Before the Wallies pass Despeñaperros Franco is killed by monarchist generals who had kept in touch with the British through Gil Robles and claim desperately that they are long life democrats and were conspiring against Franco the whole time.
 
...thank you. Just thank you.

The funny thing about the colonies is that none of them are more likely to switch hands than France's did. Unlike with Italy, there is a Spanish government in exile. Negrin spent the whole war in London. And even Italy was given Somalia back because the place is a dump.

Spain's colonies are a dump too.

So we have Britain+Commonwealth and the Free French recognize Negrin's government as soon as bombs start dropping on Gibraltar.

The first to be taken is Spanish Guinea. By the Free French. Which include lots of Free Spanish. Let the Spanish run Guinea, its only value is moral and propaganda.

Gibraltar falls. Salazar is not going to risk invasion and his own neck out of love for Britain. He keeps an armed neutrality and denies the Allies use of the Açores to not provoke the Axis. Not that it matters, because the Allies' next target is the Canaries, which fall easily, and with them Sahara and Ifni. Negrin now has a real Spanish province - and his birthplace - under control. Even if Franco is dumb enough to send forces there (he isn't) he can't unless Vichy France allows him to send an army over Morocco. But if he is, Vichy France goes "lol cannot do because we are totally neutral" and that's the end of it. The odd ship he has and has not bren sunk yet is needed to patrol the straits and the Peninsula.

Then comes *Torch, which includes Spanish Morocco, and no long after Andalusia. Before the Wallies pass Despeñaperros Franco is killed by monarchist generals who had kept in touch with the British through Gil Robles and claim desperately that they are long life democrats and were conspiring against Franco the whole time.

Then comes the question though of what protection Hitler is providing for the Spanish government against internal coups, I'd expect some kind of force being in Spain to act as a regime protection force under the assumption that Spain being in the war is worth it to him. Especially because Spain's government falling early in the war will open up Europe without a direct invasion to cauterize the wound.
 
Then comes the question though of what protection Hitler is providing for the Spanish government against internal coups, I'd expect some kind of force being in Spain to act as a regime protection force under the assumption that Spain being in the war is worth it to him. Especially because Spain's government falling early in the war will open up Europe without a direct invasion to cauterize the wound.

Yes, but the issue is simple, the high-ups in the Spanish Army were all monarchists, it was not after their retirement/cleansing in the 50s that the Army became Francoist. That means, that no matter how many troops there are sent by Hitler, they can probably be defeated.

...thank you. Just thank you.

The funny thing about the colonies is that none of them are more likely to switch hands than France's did. Unlike with Italy, there is a Spanish government in exile. Negrin spent the whole war in London. And even Italy was given Somalia back because the place is a dump.

So we have Britain+Commonwealth and the Free French recognize Negrin's government as soon as bombs start dropping on Gibraltar.

The first to be taken is Spanish Guinea. By the Free French. Which include lots of Free Spanish. Let the Spanish run Guinea, its only value is moral and propaganda.

Gibraltar falls. Salazar is not going to risk invasion and his own neck out of love for Britain. He keeps an armed neutrality and denies the Allies use of the Açores to not provoke the Axis. Not that it matters, because the Allies' next target is the Canaries, which fall easily, and with them Sahara and Ifni. Negrin now has a real Spanish province - and his birthplace - under control. Even if Franco is dumb enough to send forces there (he isn't) he can't unless Vichy France allows him to send an army over Morocco. But if he is, Vichy France goes "lol cannot do because we are totally neutral" and that's the end of it. The odd ship he has and has not bren sunk yet is needed to patrol the straits and the Peninsula.

Then comes *Torch, which includes Spanish Morocco, and no long after Andalusia. Before the Wallies pass Despeñaperros Franco is killed by monarchist generals who had kept in touch with the British through Gil Robles and claim desperately that they are long life democrats and were conspiring against Franco the whole time.

About Negrín. If the possibility of coming back to Spain arises, the PSOE and the Republicans will do their utmost to kick him out of power, remember, Negrín was hated, and it was only in the last decade that he stopped being the PSOE's quisling and bête noire.

This is a very good analysis. Regarding the CNT, I think they would suffer during the immediate post-war due to the effects of the repression and exile after the Civil War, but they probably woukd recover numbers and efficient cadres in the 50's with the eventual economical devepment, since it will mean a rural exodus to the industrial poles like in OTL and that population will be susceptible to join the CNT before the UGT. It would be a bit like the Comisiones Obreras in OTL (and with the same assambleary and autonomous spirit) but without the circumstances of clandestinity etc that finally made CCOO an extension of the PCE, and with a tradition and identity to reclaim. Also, I agree they would face political dilemas, the aforementioned choice between cooperation or obstruction under progressive governments and also the level of integration in the post-war social pact. But we could have perfectly in the 80's two big unions in the form of UGT and CNT.

Regarding the communists, probably they would have better results than during the Second Republic, thanks to Moscow and their organizative expansion during the war and the french exile, but unlike other western countries they would face a strong opposition from the rest of the left, so I don't think they would become an hegemonic force in the left, taking that role the PSOE and with the PCE continiously struggling between them and potential coalitions of forces in their left with at least a notable support.

And regarding decentralization, once the postwar ends and a new generation born after the Civil War is in charge, I can see further decentralization and a reasonable support for a federal state, not only in GalEusCa but also in places like Andalusia, Valencia or Asturias.

On the other hand, that demochristian force probably would rally around Gil-Robles, and some kind of symbolic reconciliation pact would be signed by several political leaders from the right and left under the azañist idea of Peace, Mercy and Forgivness, as a first step befoire biding to join the borning european institutions.

The idea of reconciliation was certainly there, both 'sides' realised that the sectarianism from 1932 onwards, and especially the denial of legitimacy of the other's side position had led to the war and especially the war's bitterness. A reconciliation seems indeed likely, almost inevitable. I suspect this Third Republic will use the 1931 Constitution but amended to please the right, by essentially removing the anti-religious articles from it (it was always a bad idea to put there anyway, it made more sense in ordinary legislation) and I honestly think most other things were acceptable to the right with time.

With regards to decentralisation, I agree that there will be an impetus to braoden autonomy. However, the 1931 Constitution was tremendously restrictive. To obtain autonomy, you required an Estatuto voted by 2/3 of all ayuntamientos of the provinces to vote for an assembly to draft it. Then you needed that referendum to be approved by 2/3 of all citizens of the autonomy-to-be. That is, that, 66+% people vote for it, not 66% of the voters. Abstaining was voting against. OTL, the vote on the Statute of Galicia was most likely fraudulent, since apparently reports from the time mention low turnout. The idea of the Estado integral was to maintain the unitary state and give autonomy to those regions that really wanted it. I suppose it is a possibility in Valencia, but Valencia always had a strong unionist element that predates the blaverismo, like the PURA in the Restauración and the 1931 and 33 elections.

I also wonder if we'll see a Catholic trade union, after all OTL there was the CONCA in the countryside and smaller unions in the cities and even OTL the USO was religious-y. One of the reaonas why the CONCA declined in the Second Republic was because it lost its recognition by the government because it was a religious organisation. So with a more conciliatory approach to governance it's likely for it to become important.
 
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Oh yes, I always underestimate the Spanish left's tendency to atomization and infighting. I was counting on Negrin's pointing to recent events and convincing people that his "resisting is winning" stance was the right one. But it could be not enough. Who would be an alternative?

(The Count of Barcelona might want to gain safety and points by moving from Portugal to England, by the way, and serving in the Allied armies. If not in the Spanish, in the British one at least. What an irony considering that he was ready to fight against the Republic before Mola kicked him out.)
 
Yes, but the issue is simple, the high-ups in the Spanish Army were all monarchists, it was not after their retirement/cleansing in the 50s that the Army became Francoist. That means, that no matter how many troops there are sent by Hitler, they can probably be defeated.



About Negrín. If the possibility of coming back to Spain arises, the PSOE and the Republicans will do their utmost to kick him out of power, remember, Negrín was hated, and it was only in the last decade that he stopped being the PSOE's quisling and bête noire.



The idea of reconciliation was certainly there, both 'sides' realised that the sectarianism from 1932 onwards, and especially the denial of legitimacy of the other's side position had led to the war and especially the war's bitterness. A reconciliation seems indeed likely, almost inevitable. I suspect this Third Republic will use the 1931 Constitution but amended to please the right, by essentially removing the anti-religious articles from it (it was always a bad idea to put there anyway, it made more sense in ordinary legislation) and I honestly think most other things were acceptable to the right with time.

With regards to decentralisation, I agree that there will be an impetus to braoden autonomy. However, the 1931 Constitution was tremendously restrictive. To obtain autonomy, you required an Estatuto voted by 2/3 of all ayuntamientos of the provinces to vote for an assembly to draft it. Then you needed that referendum to be approved by 2/3 of all citizens of the autonomy-to-be. That is, that, 66+% people vote for it, not 66% of the voters. Abstaining was voting against. OTL, the vote on the Statute of Galicia was most likely fraudulent, since apparently reports from the time mention low turnout. The idea of the Estado integral was to maintain the unitary state and give autonomy to those regions that really wanted it. I suppose it is a possibility in Valencia, but Valencia always had a strong unionist element that predates the blaverismo, like the PURA in the Restauración and the 1931 and 33 elections.

I also wonder if we'll see a Catholic trade union, after all OTL there was the CONCA in the countryside and smaller unions in the cities and even OTL the USO was religious-y. One of the reaonas why the CONCA declined in the Second Republic was because it lost its recognition by the government because it was a religious organisation. So with a more conciliatory approach to governance it's likely for it to become important.


I think that the almost reverence to the Constitution in OTL wouldn't be the same in this TL, spe, so a reform perhaps would be possible.

Regarding Catholic Working-class movements, perhaps they would exist, but hardly as widespread as in OTL. The USO is the result of one of these strange byproducts of National-Catgism turned against its creator. It has its origins in the HOAC (Hermandad Obrera de Acción Católica) created in the 50's by some priest with the double aim of extricating the marxism from the working-class offering a catholic alternative and gaining leverage for the Church in the Regime's internal struggles. Long story in short, it ended being the cradle of things like the FLP (a bizarre mix of revolutionnary catholicism with castrist inspirations led by former falangists) or the ORT, a maoist group....besides the more sane USO. The conditions for this resukt wouldn't be in this TL.
 
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