”The Caudillo”

The first and only issue of El fascio was published on 16 March 1933, three months after Hitler came to power. Its editor was Manuel Delgado Barreto, who had been the editor of La Nación and the oficial spokesperson for dictator Miguel Primo de Rivera. Few people saw it, as the police seized the copies and the government banned it under the Law for the Defence of the Republic.

Even so, it was an important milestone in the construction of Spanish fascism. José Antonio Primo de Rivera wrote the first draft of the program of the Falange, which was not created until 29 October 1933, for it and it featured articles by Ernesto Jiménez Caballero, Rafael Sánchez Mazas and Ramiro Ledesma. It also had illustrations by Antonio Orbegozo, one of which you can see here.

The goal of these parties was to conquer the state and use it to move towards their ideal nation. But such an important movement needed a commander, a conductor, a guide to lead the nation. In each country, this figure was given a title that alluded to his ability to lead the chosen people: Duce, Führer, Conducator… 

This is the question Orgebozo asked in March 1933, If Italy had its Duce and Germany its Führer, who would be Spain’s Caudillo?

MML