When I lived in Barcelona in 2016, I took an eye opening class about Barcelona’s history. Barcelona and the Catalonia area speak Catalan- a romance language that is a deep symbol of Catalan nationalism and identity. Here are some things I learned:
Franco’s Regime and Suppression of Catalonia (1939–1975)
Background
- After the Spanish Civil War, General Francisco Franco won the war and established a military dictatorship. Franco viewed Catalan nationalism as a direct threat.
Cultural Repression
Franco’s regime enforced an aggressive policy of Spanish nationalism, aiming to erase regional identities:
- Catalan language banned:
- Prohibited in schools, government, media, and public signage.
- Publishing in Catalan was heavily censored or illegal.
- Speaking Catalan in public could lead to fines or arrest.
- Catalan institutions dismantled:
- The Generalitat (Catalan government) was abolished.
- Political parties and unions supporting Catalan autonomy were outlawed.
- Catalan symbols outlawed:
- The Catalan flag (Senyera) and anthem were banned.
- Public celebrations of Catalan heritage were suppressed.
Political Repression
- Thousands of Catalan intellectuals, politicians, and activists were imprisoned, executed, or exiled.
- Prominent Catalan president Lluís Companys was arrested by the Nazis, handed over to Franco, and executed in 1940.
- Surveillance, censorship, and fear permeated everyday life under the regime.
End of the Dictatorship and Legacy
- Franco ruled until his death in 1975. Afterward, Spain transitioned to democracy.
- In 1978, the new Constitution recognized Catalonia as a nationality and granted it limited autonomy.
- The cultural scars of Franco’s suppression run deep; for many Catalans, the independence movement is as much about reclaiming identity as about politics or economics.
Given the history, I can see why Catalan is such an important part of this area’s history. It represents not just a language, but a centuries-long struggle for self-expression, cultural survival, and political autonomy.
