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29. Francisco Franco ruled by oppression and the use of propaganda
For nearly four decades the schoolchildren in Franco’s Spain were taught the Generalissimo had been sent by a Divine Providence to save the nation from anarchy and atheism. As adults, they were reminded of this through the use of propaganda posters and broadcasts. Those who found room for disagreement were repressed through prisons and firing squads, and hundreds of thousands died over the course of his fascist regime. As his rule lengthened it also softened in some respects, but since his death in 1975 memorials to his regime have been gradually taken down. Franco had his name assigned to numerous streets, government buildings, and other edifices. Beginning in 2007 referral to the Franco regime on such structures has been banned by the Spanish government. In many instances, they have been replaced with memorials to Franco’s many victims. By 2008 the last statue of Franco extant in Spain was removed.