Opposition to the regime (1939-1959)

Once the Civil War ended many people were exiled and a Republican government was created in exile. It was led by Diego Martínez Barrio. This government was fixed in Mexico City at the beginning and subsequently in Paris.

Monarchists also opposed the regime after WWII since they supported the return of Juan de Borbón (Alphonso XIII’s son) as his legitimate successor. Don Juan wrote the Manifesto of Lausanne in 1945, where he denounced Franco’s totalitarianism and demanded the reestablishment of monarchy as well as democracy.

Within Spain there were also armed groups who hid in the mountains to attack the regime; they were the so-called maquis. They were around 10,000 guerrilla fighters. They carried out sabotage and undercover attacks to Francoist targets. They expected a popular uprising against Franco, but it never existed. Their most important campaign counted on some international help when the Aran Valley was invaded in 1944 in order to restore the Republic in Spain (Operación Reconquista de España). However, this military campaign was not successful due to Franco’s reaction.