Second government of Francisco Franco

The second^[b] government of Francisco Franco was formed on 9 August 1939, following the end of the Spanish Civil War.^[3] It succeeded the first Franco government and was the Government of Spain from 9 August 1939 to 20 July 1945, a total of 2,172 days, or 5 years, 11 months and 11 days.

2nd government of Francisco Franco
Government of Spain
1939–1945
Date formed	9 August 1939
Date dissolved	20 July 1945
People and organisations
Head of State	Francisco Franco
Prime Minister	Francisco Franco
No. of ministers	15[a] (1939–1940) 14[a] (1940) 13[a] (1940–1945)
Total no. of members	25[a]
Member party	National Movement (Military, FET–JONS, ACNP, nonpartisans)
Status in legislature	One-party state
History
Legislature term	1st Cortes Españolas
Budget	1940, 1942, 1944, 1945
Predecessor	Franco I
Successor	Franco III

Coming to be known under various labels by the francoist-controlled media (such as the "Government of Peace" or the "Government of Victory"),^[1] the cabinet was made up of members from the different factions or "families" within the National Movement: mainly the FET y de las JONS party—the only legal political party during the Francoist regime—the military, the National Catholic Association of Propagandists (ACNP) and a number of aligned-nonpartisan figures from the civil service. The cabinet saw a large number of changes throughout its tenure, with two major cabinet reshuffles taking place in May 1941 and September 1942.^[4][5]

Council of Ministers

The Council of Ministers was structured into the office for the prime minister and 15 ministries, including two ministers without portfolio.^[6][7][8]

← Franco II Government → (9 August 1939 – 20 July 1945)
Portfolio	Name	Faction		Took office	Left office	Ref.
Head of State Prime Minister	Francisco Franco		Military	30 January 1938	9 June 1973	[9] [10]
Minister of Foreign Affairs	Juan Luis Beigbeder		Military	9 August 1939	16 October 1940	[11]
Minister of Governance Secretary of the Government of the State[c]	Ramón Serrano Suñer		FET–JONS	1 January 1939	18 October 1940	[13]
Minister of the Army	José Enrique Varela		Military	9 August 1939	3 September 1942	[11]
Minister of the Navy	Salvador Moreno		Military	9 August 1939	20 July 1945	[11]
Minister of the Air	Juan Yagüe		Military	9 August 1939	27 June 1940	[11]
Minister of Justice	Esteban Bilbao		FET–JONS	9 August 1939	15 March 1943	[11]
Minister of Finance	José Larraz López		ACNP	9 August 1939	19 May 1941	[11]
Minister of Industry and Trade	Luis Alarcón de la Lastra		Military	9 August 1939	16 October 1940	[11]
Minister of Agriculture	Joaquín Benjumea		Nonpartisan	9 August 1939	19 May 1941	[11]
Minister of National Education	José Ibáñez Martín		ACNP	9 August 1939	19 July 1951	[11]
Minister of Public Works	Alfonso Peña Boeuf		Nonpartisan	31 January 1938	20 July 1945	[14]
Minister of Labour	Joaquín Benjumea served in interim capacity from 9 August 1939 to 19 May 1941.[15]
Minister Secretary-General of FET–JONS	Agustín Muñoz Grandes		Military	9 August 1939	15 March 1940	[16]
Minister without portfolio Deputy Secretary-General of FET–JONS	Pedro Gamero del Castillo		FET–JONS	9 August 1939	19 May 1941	[17] [18]
Minister without portfolio	Rafael Sánchez Mazas		FET–JONS	9 August 1939	15 August 1940	[18]
Changes March 1940
Portfolio	Name	Faction		Took office	Left office	Ref.
Minister Secretary-General of FET–JONS	Vacant from 15 March 1940 to 19 May 1941.[19]
Changes June 1940
Portfolio	Name	Faction		Took office	Left office	Ref.
Minister of the Air	Juan Vigón		Military	27 June 1940	20 July 1945	[20]
Changes August 1940
Portfolio	Name	Faction		Took office	Left office	Ref.
Minister without portfolio	Discontinued on 15 August 1940 upon the officeholder's dismissal.[21]
Changes September 1940
Portfolio	Name	Faction		Took office	Left office	Ref.
Minister of Governance	Esteban Bilbao served in interim capacity from 12 September to 16 October 1940.[22]
Changes October 1940
Portfolio	Name	Faction		Took office	Left office	Ref.
Minister of Foreign Affairs	Ramón Serrano Suñer		FET–JONS	16 October 1940	3 September 1942	[23]
Minister of Governance	José Lorente Sanz took on the ordinary discharge of duties from 16 October 1940 to 5 May 1941.[24][25]
Minister of Industry and Trade	Demetrio Carceller Segura		FET–JONS	16 October 1940	20 July 1945	[26]
Changes May 1941
Portfolio	Name	Faction		Took office	Left office	Ref.
Minister of Governance	Valentín Galarza		Military	5 May 1941	3 September 1942	[27]
Minister of Finance	Joaquín Benjumea		Nonpartisan	19 May 1941	19 July 1951	[28]
Minister of Agriculture	Miguel Primo de Rivera y Sáenz de Heredia		FET–JONS	19 May 1941	20 July 1945	[29]
Minister of Labour	José Antonio Girón		FET–JONS	19 May 1941	25 February 1957	[30]
Minister Secretary-General of FET–JONS	José Luis de Arrese		FET–JONS	19 May 1941	20 July 1945	[31]
Minister without portfolio Deputy Secretary-General of FET–JONS	Discontinued on 19 May 1941 upon the officeholder's dismissal.[32][33]
Changes September 1942
Portfolio	Name	Faction		Took office	Left office	Ref.
Minister of Foreign Affairs	Francisco Gómez-Jordana		Military	3 September 1942	3 August 1944†	[34]
Minister of Governance	Blas Pérez González		FET–JONS	3 September 1942	25 February 1957	[35]
Minister of the Army	Carlos Asensio Cabanillas		Military	3 September 1942	20 July 1945	[36]
Changes March 1943
Portfolio	Name	Faction		Took office	Left office	Ref.
Minister of Justice	Eduardo Aunós		FET–JONS	15 March 1943	20 July 1945	[37]
Changes August 1944
Portfolio	Name	Faction		Took office	Left office	Ref.
Minister of Foreign Affairs	José Félix de Lequerica		FET–JONS	11 August 1944	20 July 1945	[38]

Departmental structure

Francisco Franco's second government was organised into several superior and governing units, whose number, powers and hierarchical structure varied depending on the ministerial department.^[6][7][8]

Unit/body rank

• (■) Undersecretary
• (■) Director-general
• (◆) Military & intelligence agency

Office (Original name)	Portrait	Name	Took office	Left office	Alliance/faction			Ref.
Prime Minister's Office
Prime Minister (Presidencia del Gobierno)		Francisco Franco	30 January 1938	9 June 1973			National Movement (Military)	[6] [7] [8] [39]
	9 August 1939 – (■) Undersecretariat of the Prime Minister's Office (■) Directorate-General for the Geographic and Cadastral Institute (■) Directorate-General for General Policy and Coordination (■) Directorate-General for Morocco and Colonies (from 15 Jan 1942)
Government Secretariat (Secretaría del Gobierno)		Ramón Serrano Suñer	2 February 1938	21 October 1940			National Movement (FET–JONS)	[6]
	See Ministry of Governance (9 August 1939 – 18 October 1940)
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores)		Juan Luis Beigbeder	9 August 1939	16 October 1940			National Movement (Military)	[6] [8] [39] [40] [41]
		Ramón Serrano Suñer	16 October 1940	3 September 1942			National Movement (FET–JONS)
		Francisco Gómez-Jordana	3 September 1942	3 August 1944 (died in office)			National Movement (Military)
		José Félix de Lequerica	11 August 1944	20 July 1945			National Movement (FET–JONS)
	9 August 1939 – 16 October 1942 (■) Undersecretariat of Foreign Affairs (■) Directorate-General for Policy and Treaties (■) Directorate-General for Administrative Affairs (■) Directorate-General for Morocco and Colonies (until 15 Jan 1942) 16 October 1942 – 31 December 1945 (■) Undersecretariat of Foreign Affairs (■) Directorate-General for Foreign Policy (■) Directorate-General for Economic Policy (■) Directorate-General for General Affairs (■) Directorate-General for America (from 9 Nov 1944) (■) Introducer of Ambassadors (from 9 Nov 1944)
Ministry of Governance
Ministry of Governance (Ministerio de la Gobernación)		Ramón Serrano Suñer	1 January 1939	18 October 1940			National Movement (FET–JONS)	[8] [42] [43] [44]
		José Lorente Sanz (ordinary discharge of duties)	16 October 1940	5 May 1941			National Movement (FET–JONS)
		Valentín Galarza	5 May 1941	3 September 1942			National Movement (Military)
		Blas Pérez González	3 September 1942	25 February 1957			National Movement (FET–JONS)
	9 August – 23 September 1939 (■) Undersecretariat of the Interior (■) Directorate-General for Internal Policy (■) Directorate-General for Local Administration (■) Directorate-General for Devastated Regions and Repairs (■) Directorate-General for Charity and Social Works (■) Directorate-General for Health (■) Undersecretariat of Public Order (■) Directorate-General for Security (■) Directorate-General for Frontiers (■) Directorate-General for Post and Telecommunication (■) Directorate-General for Traffic Police (■) Undersecretariat for Press and Propaganda (■) Directorate-General for Press (■) Directorate-General for Propaganda (■) Directorate-General for Tourism 23 September 1939 – 20 May 1941 (■) Undersecretariat of Governance (■) Directorate-General for Local Administration (■) Directorate-General for Internal Policy (■) Directorate-General for Charity and Social Works (■) Directorate-General for Health (■) Directorate-General for Security (■) Directorate-General for Post and Telecommunication (■) Directorate-General for Architecture (■) Directorate-General for Devastated Regions and Repairs (■) Undersecretariat for Press and Propaganda (■) Directorate-General for Press (■) Directorate-General for Propaganda (■) Directorate-General for Tourism 20 May 1941 – (■) Undersecretariat of Governance (■) Directorate-General for Local Administration (■) Directorate-General for Internal Policy (■) Directorate-General for Charity and Social Works (■) Directorate-General for Health (■) Directorate-General for Security (■) Directorate-General for Post and Telecommunication (■) Directorate-General for Architecture (■) Directorate-General for Devastated Regions and Repairs (■) Directorate-General for Tourism
Ministry of the Army
Ministry of the Army (Ministerio del Ejército)		José Enrique Varela	9 August 1939	3 September 1942			National Movement (Military)	[8] [45] [46] [47]
		Carlos Asensio Cabanillas	3 September 1942	20 July 1945			National Movement (Military)
	22 September 1939 – 12 July 1940 (◆) Army Staff–Chief of Staff of the Army (■) General Secretariat of the Army (■) Directorate-General for Military Teaching (■) Directorate-General for Recruitment and Personnel (■) Directorate-General for Industry and Materiel (■) Directorate-General for Transports (Railways and Motor Racing) (■) Directorate-General for Services (■) Directorate-General for Mutilated in War for the Homeland (■) Inspectorate-General for Fortifications (■) Inspectorate-General of the Civil Guard and Carabineros (disest. 15 Mar 1940) (■) Directorate-General of the Civil Guard (est. 15 Mar 1940) 12 July 1940 – (◆) Army Staff–Chief of Staff of the Army (■) Undersecretariat of the Army (■) Directorate-General for Military Teaching (■) Directorate-General for Recruitment and Personnel (■) Directorate-General for Industry and Materiel (■) Directorate-General for Transports (Railways and Motor Racing) (■) Directorate-General for Services (■) Directorate-General for Fortifications and Works (■) Directorate-General for Mutilated in War for the Homeland (■) Directorate-General of the Civil Guard
Ministry of the Navy
Ministry of the Navy (Ministerio de Marina)		Salvador Moreno	9 August 1939	3 September 1942			National Movement (Military)	[8] [48]
	16 August 1939 – (◆) Navy Staff–Chief of Staff of the Navy (■) General Secretariat of the Navy
Ministry of the Air
Ministry of the Air (Ministerio del Aire)		Juan Yagüe	9 August 1939	27 June 1940			National Movement (Military)	[8] [49] [50]
		Juan Vigón	27 June 1940	20 July 1945			National Movement (Military)
	1 September 1939 – 12 July 1940 (◆) Air Force Staff–Chief of Staff of the Air (■) Undersecretariat of the Air (■) Directorate-General for Personnel (■) Directorate-General for Materiel (■) Directorate-General for Infrastructure (■) Directorate-General for Antiaeronautics (■) Directorate-General for Civil Aviation 12 July 1940 – (◆) Air Force Staff–Chief of Staff of the Air (■) General Secretariat of the Air (■) Undersecretariat of the Air (■) Directorate-General for Personnel (■) Directorate-General for Instruction (■) Directorate-General for Industry and Materiel (■) Directorate-General for Civil Aviation (■) Directorate-General for Infrastructure (■) Directorate-General for Antiaeronautics
Ministry of Justice
Ministry of Justice (Ministerio de Justicia)		Esteban Bilbao	9 August 1939	15 March 1943			National Movement (FET–JONS)	[8]
		Eduardo Aunós	15 March 1943	20 July 1945			National Movement (FET–JONS)
Ministry of Finance
Ministry of Finance (Ministerio de Hacienda)		José Larraz López	9 August 1939	19 May 1941			National Movement (ACNP)	[8] [51] [52]
		Joaquín Benjumea	19 May 1941	19 July 1951			National Movement (Nonpartisan)
Ministry of Industry and Trade
Ministry of Industry and Trade (Ministerio de Industria y Comercio)		Luis Alarcón de la Lastra	9 August 1939	16 October 1940			National Movement (Military)	[8] [53]
		Demetrio Carceller Segura	16 October 1940	20 July 1945			National Movement (FET–JONS)
Ministry of Agriculture
Ministry of Agriculture (Ministerio de Agricultura)		Joaquín Benjumea	9 August 1939	19 May 1941			National Movement (Nonpartisan)	[8]
		Miguel Primo de Rivera y Sáenz de Heredia	19 May 1941	20 July 1945			National Movement (FET–JONS)
Ministry of National Education
Ministry of National Education (Ministerio de Educación Nacional)		José Ibáñez Martín	9 August 1939	19 July 1951			National Movement (ACNP)	[8] [54]
Ministry of Public Works
Ministry of Public Works (Ministerio de Obras Públicas)		Alfonso Peña Boeuf	31 January 1938	20 July 1945			National Movement (Nonpartisan)	[8]
Ministry of Labour
Ministry of Labour (Ministerio de Trabajo)		Joaquín Benjumea (interim)	9 August 1939	19 May 1941			National Movement (Nonpartisan)	[8]
		José Antonio Girón	19 May 1941	25 February 1957			National Movement (FET–JONS)
	9 August 1939 – (■) Undersecretariat of Labour (■) Directorate-General for Labour (■) Directorate-General for Labour Jurisdiction (■) Directorate-General for Forecast (■) Directorate-General for Statistics
Minister Secretary-General of FET–JONS
Minister Secretary-General of FET–JONS (Ministro Secretario General de FET y de las JONS)		Agustín Muñoz Grandes	9 August 1939	15 March 1940			National Movement (Military)	[55]
		José Luis de Arrese	19 May 1941	20 July 1945			National Movement (FET–JONS)
Ministers without portfolio
Minister Deputy Secretary-General of FET–JONS, without portfolio (Ministro Vicesecretario General de FET y de las JONS, sin cartera) (until 19 May 1941)		Pedro Gamero del Castillo	9 August 1939	19 May 1941			National Movement (FET–JONS)
Minister without portfolio (Ministro sin cartera) (until 15 August 1940)		Rafael Sánchez Mazas	9 August 1939	15 August 1940			National Movement (FET–JONS)

Notes

1. Does not include the Prime Minister.
2. Sources differ on the numbering, depending on whether they consider every cabinet change or just major reshuffles as giving way to a different government. In this sense, some consider the 1939–1945 period as a single government under Franco (the second),^[1] whereas others split it into four separate ones: 1939–1941 (2nd), 1941–1942 (3rd), 1942–1943 (4th), 1943–1944 (5th) and 1944–1945 (6th).^[2]
3. Until 21 October 1940.^[12]