The Franco dictatorship refers to the authoritarian regime led by General Francisco Franco in Spain from 1939 to 1975. After winning the Spanish Civil War, Franco established a nationalist government that suppressed political opposition, banned regional languages, and enforced strict censorship. His regime was characterized by a focus on traditional values and a strong alliance with the Catholic Church. During Franco's rule, Spain experienced significant economic challenges and social repression. The government implemented policies that favored industrialization, leading to economic growth in the 1960s. However, political dissent was met with harsh punishment, and many Spaniards lived in fear of persecution. Franco's death in 1975 marked the end of his dictatorship and the beginning of Spain's transition to democracy.